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Development of face recognition: Dynamic causal modelling of MEG data
1Department of Cognitive Science, Macquarie University, New South Wales 2109, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Cognition and Its Disorders, Macquarie University, New South Wales 2109, Australia.
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
|December 4, 2017
Summary
Face repetition enhances brain activity in adults but not children. Children show faster M250 latencies for repeated faces, suggesting immature visual processing due to weaker connections between brain areas.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Developmental Neuroscience
Background:
- Adults exhibit enhanced brain activity (M250/N250) when viewing repeated faces.
- This M250 response occurs approximately 250ms after face onset.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if preschool-aged children exhibit similar M250 amplitude modulation to repeated faces as adults.
- To explore age-related differences in face processing networks using Dynamic Causal Modelling (DCM).
Main Methods:
- Utilized a pediatric Magnetoencephalography (MEG) system to measure brain activity in children.
- Applied DCM to analyze the core face network, including the occipital face area (OFA), fusiform face area (FFA), and superior temporal sulcus (STS).
Main Results:
- Children did not show significant M250 amplitude modulation for repeated faces, unlike adults.
- Children displayed significantly faster M250 latencies for repeated compared to non-repeated faces.
- DCM revealed altered forward and backward connections in both age groups, with adults showing modulation in FFA and OFA, while children showed modulation only in OFA.
Conclusions:
- The amplitude-insensitivity of the immature M250 in children may stem from weaker connections between the FFA and lower visual areas.
- Face repetition impacts neural connectivity differently in children and adults, highlighting developmental changes in the face processing network.
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