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Discriminating grotesque from typical faces: evidence from the Thatcher illusion
Nick Donnelly1, Nicole R Zürcher, Katherine Cornes
1School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom. n.donnelly@soton.ac.uk
Plos One
|September 14, 2011
Summary
This study investigated the Thatcher illusion, finding that upright grotesque faces activate emotion networks, while inverted faces engage perceptual processing areas. Eye attention significantly influences face discrimination.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Visual Perception
Background:
- The Thatcher illusion, where inverted faces with altered features appear normal, is a well-known phenomenon.
- Previous research suggests face perception relies on holistic processing, but the specific neural mechanisms remain under investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neural basis of discriminating Thatcherized faces from typical faces.
- To examine the role of face orientation and feature attention in processing these faces.
Main Methods:
- Two simultaneous alternative forced choice tasks were conducted: a behavioral task measuring reaction times and errors, and a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) task measuring brain activation.
- Participants viewed upright and inverted faces, as well as churches (in the behavioral task) to confirm face specificity.
Main Results:
- Behavioral results confirmed face specificity and highlighted the crucial role of eye attention in discriminating Thatcherized faces.
- fMRI data revealed that upright Thatcherized faces activate emotion and social evaluation networks.
- In contrast, inverted Thatcherized faces engaged brain regions typically associated with perceptual face processing.
Conclusions:
- Face perception involves distinct neural pathways depending on orientation and the nature of facial distortions.
- The study underscores the importance of upright facial features, particularly eyes, for social and emotional processing.
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