Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 28, 2026

Memorization-Based Training and Testing Paradigm for Robust Vocal Identity Recognition in Expressive Speech Using Event-Related Potentials Analysis
05:48

Memorization-Based Training and Testing Paradigm for Robust Vocal Identity Recognition in Expressive Speech Using Event-Related Potentials Analysis

Published on: August 9, 2024

Who is who: areas of the brain associated with recognizing and naming famous faces

Carlo Giussani1, Franck-Emmanuel Roux, Lorenzo Bello

  • 1Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, France.

Journal of Neurosurgery
|October 22, 2008
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Specific brain regions for famous face naming were identified in the left frontal and anterior temporal gyri. This research helps neurosurgeons spare critical areas during brain tumor surgery.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Neurosurgery

Background:

  • The precise neural substrates underlying famous face naming remain incompletely understood.
  • Identifying specific brain regions for distinct naming categories is crucial for preserving function during neurosurgery.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the existence and location of brain regions specifically involved in famous face naming.
  • To compare the neural organization of famous face naming with object naming.
  • To inform surgical planning by mapping critical areas for face recognition.

Main Methods:

  • Direct electrical stimulation mapping was employed in 56 patients undergoing brain tumor surgery.
  • Patients performed both object-naming and famous face-naming tasks during stimulation.
  • Interference patterns were analyzed to identify face-naming specific cortical sites.

Main Results:

  • Face-naming specific areas were small (< 1 cm2) and primarily located in the left hemisphere.
  • Significant face-naming specific sites were found in the left frontal gyri (superior, middle, inferior) and anterior temporal gyri (superior, middle).
  • Right hemisphere involvement in famous face naming was minimal.

Conclusions:

  • The study demonstrates a relative anatomical segregation of naming categories within language areas.
  • Famous face naming is preferentially processed in the left frontal and anterior temporal gyri.
  • Nomenclature tasks should be adapted to specific brain regions in neurosurgical patients to optimize outcomes.

More Related Videos

Behavioral Tasks for Examining Identity Recognition In Mice06:58

Behavioral Tasks for Examining Identity Recognition In Mice

Published on: February 7, 2025

Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings07:08

Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings

Published on: August 1, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Association Areas of the Cortex01:21

Association Areas of the Cortex

Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
Prosopagnosia01:24

Prosopagnosia

Prosopagnosia, also known as face blindness, is the inability to recognize faces. In severe cases, individuals with prosopagnosia may not recognize close family members, including parents and spouses, by their faces. For instance, someone with prosopagnosia might walk past their child in a crowd, only realizing their mistake upon noticing their child's distinctive backpack or favorite jacket. Prosopagnosia specifically impairs facial recognition, while the recognition of other objects or...
Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex01:14

Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex

The cerebral cortex, the brain's outermost layer, is pivotal in processing complex cognitive tasks, emotions, and various sensory inputs and executing voluntary motor activities. This intricate structure is divided into three primary functional areas: the motor areas, sensory areas, and association areas.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex.
Lobes of the Cerebrum01:22

Lobes of the Cerebrum

The cerebral cortex, a critical structure of the brain, is intricately divided into two hemispheres, each consisting of four distinct lobes: occipital, temporal, frontal, and parietal. These lobes function cooperatively to regulate various cognitive and sensory functions, forming the basis of our complex neural capabilities.
Frontal lobe
The frontal lobes, located behind the forehead, are the command center of our brain, controlling personality, intelligence, and voluntary muscle movements.
Olfaction01:25

Olfaction

The sense of smell is achieved through the activities of the olfactory system. It starts when an airborne odorant enters the nasal cavity and reaches olfactory epithelium (OE). The OE is protected by a thin layer of mucus, which also serves the purpose of dissolving more complex compounds into simpler chemical odorants. The size of the OE and the density of sensory neurons varies among species; in humans, the OE is only about 9-10 cm2.
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex01:23

Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex

The somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobes is crucial for interpreting sensory data such as touch, temperature, and proprioception. The somatosensory cortex, situated in the parietal lobes, plays a vital role in interpreting sensory information like touch, temperature, and proprioception—awareness of body position. This specialized brain region features an organized structure wherein neurons at the top primarily process sensations originating from the lower body. In contrast, those at the...