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Faces evoke spatially differentiated patterns of BOLD activation and deactivation
Kevin A Pelphrey1, Peter B Mack, Allen Song
1Duke-UNC Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University Medical Center, 163 Bell Building, Box 3918, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Neuroreport
|June 13, 2003
Summary
Brain imaging reveals that viewing faces activates specific visual cortex areas while deactivating others. This suggests a complex neural mechanism, potentially involving category-specific inhibition, for face processing.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- The human brain possesses specialized regions for processing visual information.
- Previous research has identified areas in the ventral extrastriate cortex activated by face stimuli.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate brain activity patterns associated with viewing faces using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
- To identify both activated and deactivated brain regions in response to face stimuli within a complex visual environment.
Main Methods:
- fMRI scans were conducted on 8 participants viewing images of faces interspersed with common objects.
- Blood oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) contrast signals were analyzed to measure brain activity.
Main Results:
- Consistent with prior studies, face viewing led to increased BOLD signals in the fusiform and inferior temporal gyri (ventral extrastriate cortex).
- Novel finding: Face stimuli also caused decreased BOLD signals (deactivation) in medial regions of the lingual and parahippocampal gyri.
Conclusions:
- Face perception involves both activation of specific visual processing areas and deactivation of others.
- The observed deactivation may indicate neural inhibition, possibly category-specific, playing a role in distinguishing faces from other objects.