Electrophysiological and Haemodynamic Correlates of Face Perception, Recognition and Priming

• Published in: Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. 1991) Vol. 13; no. 7; pp. 793 - 805
• Main Authors: Henson, R.N., Goshen-Gottstein, Y., Ganel, T., Otten, L.J., Quayle, A., Rugg, M.D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Oxford University Press 01-07-2003; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: Adult; Brain Mapping - methods; Cerebral Cortex - blood supply; Cerebral Cortex - physiology; cortex (fusiform); Evoked Potentials - physiology; Evoked Potentials, Visual - physiology; Face; Facial Expression; Female; Humans; Learning - physiology; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Memory - physiology; Pattern Recognition, Visual - physiology; Photic Stimulation - methods; Visual Perception - physiology
• ISSN: 1047-3211; 1460-2199; 1460-2199
• DOI: 10.1093/cercor/13.7.793

Face perception, recognition and priming were examined with event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and scalp event-related potentials (ERPs). Face perception was associated with haemodynamic increases in regions including bilateral fusiform and right superior temporal cortices, and a right posterior negativity (N170), most likely generated in the superior temporal region. Face recognition was associated with haemodynamic increases in fusiform, medial frontal and orbitofrontal cortices, and with a frontocentral positivity from 550 ms poststimulus. Face repetition was associated with a positivity from 400 to 600 ms and behavioural priming. Repetition of familiar faces was also associated with earlier onset of the ERP familiarity effect, and haemodynamic decreases in fusiform cortex. These data support a multi-component model of face-processing, with priming arising from more than one stage.