Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026

How to Detect Amygdala Activity with Magnetoencephalography using Source Imaging
Published on: June 3, 2013
Temporal profile of amygdala γ oscillations in response to faces
Wataru Sato1, Takanori Kochiyama, Shota Uono
1Kyoto University, Japan. sato@pri.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
Neuroimaging studies have reported greater activation of the human amygdala in response to faces than to nonfacial stimuli, yet little is known about the temporal profile of this activation. We investigated this issue by recording the intracranial field potentials of the amygdala in participants undergoing preneurosurgical assessment (n = 6). Participants observed faces, mosaics, and houses in upright and inverted orientations using a dummy target detection task. Time-frequency statistical parametric mapping analyses revealed that the amygdala showed greater gamma-band activity in response to faces than to mosaics at 200-300 msec, with a peak at 255 msec. Gamma-band activation with a similar temporal profile was also found in response to faces versus houses. Activation patterns did not differ between upright and inverted presentations of stimuli. These results suggest that the human amygdala is involved in the early stages of face processing, including the modulation of subjective perception of faces.
Related Concept Videos
Role of Amygdala in Memory
One of the...
Association Areas of the Cortex
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,...
Facial Feedback Hypothesis
Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System

