fMRI-Adaptation Reveals Dissociable Neural Representations of Identity and Expression in Face Perception

• Published in: Journal of neurophysiology Vol. 92; no. 3; pp. 1830 - 1839
• Main Authors: Winston, J. S, Henson, R.N.A, Fine-Goulden, M. R, Dolan, R. J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Am Phys Soc 01-09-2004
• Subjects: Adaptation, Biological - physiology; Adolescent; Adult; Analysis of Variance; Face; Female; Humans; Linear Models; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Neurons - physiology; Photic Stimulation - methods; Visual Perception - physiology
• ISSN: 0022-3077; 1522-1598
• DOI: 10.1152/jn.00155.2004

1 Wellcome Department of Imaging Neuroscience and 2 Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom
Submitted 17 February 2004;
accepted in final form 23 April 2004
The distributed model of face processing proposes an anatomical dissociation between brain regions that encode invariant aspects of faces, such as identity, and those that encode changeable aspects of faces, such as expression. We tested for a neuroanatomical dissociation for identity and expression in face perception using a functional MRI (fMRI) adaptation paradigm. Repeating identity across face pairs led to reduced fMRI signal in fusiform cortex and posterior superior temporal sulcus (STS), whereas repeating emotional expression across pairs led to reduced signal in a more anterior region of STS. These results provide neuroanatomical evidence for the distributed model of face processing and highlight a dissociation within right STS between a caudal segment coding identity and a more rostral region coding emotional expression.
Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: J. Winston, Wellcome Department of Imaging Neuroscience, 12 Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK (E-mail: j.winston{at}fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk ).