Individual differences predict eyewitness identification performance

• We examined how individual differences influenced eyewitness lineup performance.
• Four measures were used to predict simultaneous and sequential lineup performance.
• Individual differences differentially predicted accuracy based on lineup type.

A great deal of research has focused on eyewitness identification performance as a function of sequential versus simultaneous lineup presentation methods. We examined if individual differences in cognitive ability influence eyewitness identification, and whether these factors lead to performance differences as a function of lineup presentation method. We found that individual differences in facial recognition ability, working memory capacity, and levels of autistic traits, did result in differential performance. Differences in lineup performance are due to the interaction of individual differences and presentation method, signaling that it is possible to enhance the accuracy of eyewitness identifications by tailoring a lineup presentation method to the capabilities of an individual eyewitness.