Related Experiment Videos
Activity in fusiform face area modulated as a function of working memory load
1Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, PA, USA. druzgal@mail.med.upenn.edu
Brain Research. Cognitive Brain Research
|February 13, 2001
Summary
This study shows that both the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the fusiform face area (FFA) are involved in visual working memory for faces. Activity in these brain regions increased with higher working memory demands.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- fMRI studies suggest extrastriate visual areas are key for perception, while the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is crucial for working memory.
- Conversely, monkey studies link extrastriate areas to visual working memory.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if PFC and fusiform face area (FFA) activity changes with increasing working memory demands for faces.
- To explore the role of these brain regions in visual working memory tasks.
Main Methods:
- Used an n-back task with gray-scale faces to parametrically vary working memory load.
- Kept stimulus presentation, perceptual, and motor demands constant across conditions.
- Measured brain activity using fMRI.
Main Results:
- Replicated findings of increased PFC activation with higher task load (n-back).
- Novelly found that FFA activation also increased directly with task load (n-back).
Conclusions:
- Both PFC and FFA activity scale with increasing face working memory demands.
- These findings challenge the strict separation of perceptual and working memory roles in visual processing areas.