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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 28, 2025

Investigating Social Cognition in Infants and Adults Using Dense Array Electroencephalography dEEG

Investigating Social Cognition in Infants and Adults Using Dense Array Electroencephalography dEEG

Published on: June 27, 2011

Developmental changes in the processing of faces as revealed by EEG decoding.

Inês Mares¹, Louise Ewing², Emily K Farran³

¹Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck College, University of London, United Kingdom.

|February 22, 2020

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Face processing abilities, including the face inversion effect, show early neural maturation in children as young as six. While broad face recognition is established early, neural refinement continues into adulthood.

Keywords:

Children Development EEG Face-processing Multivariate pattern analysis N170

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Last Updated: Dec 28, 2025

Investigating Social Cognition in Infants and Adults Using Dense Array Electroencephalography dEEG

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Published on: June 27, 2011

Cortical Source Analysis of High-Density EEG Recordings in Children

Cortical Source Analysis of High-Density EEG Recordings in Children

Published on: June 30, 2014

Infant Auditory Processing and Event-related Brain Oscillations

Infant Auditory Processing and Event-related Brain Oscillations

Published on: July 1, 2015

Area of Science:

Cognitive Neuroscience
Developmental Psychology
Visual Perception

Background:

Rapid face processing is crucial for human interaction and improves with age.
The maturation timeline of face-processing mechanisms, particularly the face inversion effect, is debated.
Previous behavioral studies suggest early development of expert face processing, but neural evidence is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the neural dynamics of face processing in children (6-11 years) and adults.
To determine the presence of distinct neural profiles for upright and inverted faces using electroencephalogram (EEG).
To examine the neural basis of the face inversion effect and its developmental trajectory.

Main Methods:

Applied multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) to electroencephalogram (EEG) data.
Compared neural activity for upright faces versus other objects (houses) and inverted faces.
Analyzed data from children aged 6-11 years and adults.

Main Results:

Robust, individual-level neural discrimination profiles for broad face categorization were found from the youngest ages.
Evidence for expert face processing, indicated by the face inversion effect, was present in children.
Quantitative differences in neural responses between children and adults suggest age-related refinement of face processing.

Conclusions:

Broad face processing mechanisms appear to mature early in development.
Neural specialization for face processing continues to refine from childhood into adulthood.
Findings support recent behavioral evidence of early expert face abilities and provide novel neural insights.