Identifying the cortical face network with dynamic face stimuli: A large group fMRI study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have identified a distributed network of face-selective brain regions.
• Investigating the hemispheric laterality and reliability of these regions is crucial for understanding face perception.

Approach:

• fMRI data from 52 gender-balanced participants were analyzed while they viewed videos of faces, bodies, and objects.
• Hemispheric differences in the size and neural response of face-selective regions were examined.

Key Points:

• Five face-selective regions (FFA, pSTS, aSTS, IFG, amygdala) were larger in the right hemisphere compared to the left.
• The neural response to moving faces was greater in right hemisphere face-selective regions.
• The pSTS and IFG showed significant rightward lateralization and were larger relative to other face-selective regions.

Conclusions:

• Moving face processing is preferentially lateralized to the right hemisphere.
• The pSTS and IFG are key regions driving right-hemisphere dominance in moving face perception.
• While face-selective regions tended to be larger in females, this difference was not statistically significant.