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The relationship between visual word and face processing lateralization in the fusiform gyri: A cross-sectional study
Jodie Davies-Thompson1, Samantha Johnston2, Yashar Tashakkor2
1Human Vision and Eye Movement Laboratory, Departments of Medicine (Neurology), Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Crossmodal Perception and Plasticity Laboratory, Center of Mind/Brain Sciences, University of Trento, Italy.
Brain Research
|May 15, 2016
Summary
This study investigated the relationship between visual word and face processing lateralization. Contrary to theory, researchers found no inverse correlation, suggesting other factors influence brain region specialization.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Visual word and face processing engage similar neural networks.
- These networks exhibit complementary hemispheric asymmetries: faces are right-lateralized, words left-lateralized.
- A developmental competition theory posits an inverse correlation in lateralization between word and face processing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if developmental competition between visual word and face processing leads to an inverse correlation in their lateralization.
- To examine the relationship between the degree of lateralization for word and face activation in the fusiform gyri.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used in 26 healthy, right-handed, literate adults.
- Participants underwent fMRI scans with face and word localizer tasks.
- Lateralization indices for word and face activity in the fusiform gyri were calculated and correlated across subjects.
Main Results:
- No negative correlations were found between the lateralization of visual word and face activation.
- Positive correlations were observed for peak MR responses within the left hemisphere and between specific brain regions (visual word form area and fusiform face area).
- The face lateralization index positively correlated with the word index, contradicting the complementary hypothesis.
Conclusions:
- The study does not support a complementary relationship between visual word and face lateralization across individuals.
- Positive correlations suggest shared underlying factors, potentially including attention or other influences on functional lateralization.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the factors driving these observed positive correlations.
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