Title
Early face processing specificity: It's in the eyes!
Abstract
Unlike most other objects that are processed analytically, faces are processed configurally. This configural processing is reflected early in visual processing following face inversion and contrast reversal, as an increase in the N170 amplitude, a scalp-recorded event-related potential. Here, we show that these face-specific effects are mediated by the eye region. That is, they occurred only when the eyes were present, but not when eyes were removed from the face. The N170 recorded to inverted and negative faces likely reflects the processing of the eyes. We propose a neural model of face processing in which face- and eye-selective neurons situated in the superior temporal sulcus region of the human brain respond differently to the face configuration and to the eyes depending on the face context. This dynamic response modulation accounts for the N170 variations reported in the literature. The eyes may be central to what makes faces so special.
Year
DOI
Venue
2007
10.1162/jocn.2007.19.11.1815
Cognitive Neuroscience, Journal of
Keywords
Field
DocType
event related potential
Computer vision,Neuroscience,Information processing,Visual processing,Communication,Psychology,Artificial intelligence,Superior temporal sulcus,Perception
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
19
11
0898-929X
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
12
1.34
6
Authors
4
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Roxane J. Itier115031.77
Claude Alain2233.37
Katherine Sedore3121.34
Anthony R McIntosh441758.37