Multivariate functional neuroimaging analyses reveal that strength-dependent face expectations are represented in...

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Perception integrates prior expectations with sensory input.
• The neural representation of expectation strength remains unclear.
• Prior precision may be encoded in higher-level sensory areas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how the human brain represents the strength of prior expectations.
• To determine if expectation strength is encoded with expected content in face-sensitive regions.
• To test hierarchical predictive processing theories.

Main Methods:

• Multivariate functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) analyses.
• Participants associated scene images with faces of varying predicted probabilities (low, intermediate, high).
• Analysis of response pattern similarity in face-sensitive brain regions.

Main Results:

• Anticipation increased response pattern similarity in the anterior temporal lobe for expected faces.
• Unexpected faces elicited increased activity in prediction error networks (caudate, insula).
• Strength-dependent face expectations are represented in higher-level face-identity areas.

Conclusions:

• Higher-level sensory regions represent weighted priors, supporting hierarchical predictive processing.
• Expectation strength is neurally encoded within face-identity processing areas.
• Findings elucidate the neural mechanisms of active inference in perception.