Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Association Areas of the Cortex01:21

Association Areas of the Cortex

5.4K
Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
5.4K
Parallel Processing01:20

Parallel Processing

152
The brain processes sensory information rapidly due to parallel processing, which involves sending data across multiple neural pathways at the same time. This method allows the brain to manage various sensory qualities, such as shapes, colors, movements, and locations, all concurrently. For instance, when observing a forest landscape, the brain simultaneously processes the movement of leaves, the shapes of trees, the depth between them, and the various shades of green. This enables a quick and...
152
Facial Feedback Hypothesis01:24

Facial Feedback Hypothesis

157
Charles Darwin proposed that facial expressions are an evolutionary adaptation for communication. He argued that these expressions are not influenced by culture but are universal across species. For example, a snarling expression with exposed teeth signals a threat in many animals, including humans. Darwin also suggested that displaying an emotion can intensify the feeling. Smiling, for example, could enhance one's sense of happiness. This idea laid the foundation for understanding the role...
157
Neural Circuits01:25

Neural Circuits

1.2K
Neural circuits and neuronal pools are two of the main structures found in the nervous system. Neural circuits are networks of neurons that work together to carry out a specific task or process. They consist of interconnected neurons and glial cells, which provide structural and metabolic support.
Neuronal pools are collections of nerve cells with similar functions and interact through chemical and electrical signals. These pools include both interneurons (the central neural circuit nodes that...
1.2K
Prosopagnosia01:24

Prosopagnosia

172
Prosopagnosia, also known as face blindness, is the inability to recognize faces. In severe cases, individuals with prosopagnosia may not recognize close family members, including parents and spouses, by their faces. For instance, someone with prosopagnosia might walk past their child in a crowd, only realizing their mistake upon noticing their child's distinctive backpack or favorite jacket. Prosopagnosia specifically impairs facial recognition, while the recognition of other objects or...
172
Visual System01:26

Visual System

585
Light enters the eye through the cornea, a transparent, dome-shaped surface covering the surface of the eyeball that helps to direct and focus incoming light. This light is then channeled toward the pupil, an adjustable opening whose size is controlled by the iris. The iris, a pigmented muscle, regulates the amount of light entering the eye by contracting or dilating the pupil, thereby ensuring optimal light levels for clear vision.
Once through the pupil, the light passes through the lens, a...
585

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Colour blindness adversely impacts face recognition.

Visual cognition·2026
Same author

Action Intentions Reactivate Representations of Task-Relevant Cognitive Cues.

eNeuro·2025
Same author

Computation on Demand: Action-Specific Representations of Visual Task Features Arise during Distinct Movement Phases.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2024
Same author

Image reconstruction reveals the impact of aging on face perception.

Journal of experimental psychology. Human perception and performance·2021
Same author

Tuning the ensemble: Incidental skewing of the perceptual average through memory-driven selection.

Journal of experimental psychology. Human perception and performance·2021
Same author

A multivariate investigation of visual word, face, and ensemble processing: Perspectives from EEG-based decoding and feature selection.

Psychophysiology·2019

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 7, 2025

Dynamic Digital Biomarkers of Motor and Cognitive Function in Parkinson's Disease
10:28

Dynamic Digital Biomarkers of Motor and Cognitive Function in Parkinson's Disease

Published on: July 24, 2019

15.2K

The Neural Dynamics of Face Ensemble and Central Face Processing.

Marco Agazio Sama1, Adrian Nestor2, Jonathan Samuel Cant2

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada marco.sama@mail.utoronto.ca.

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience
|December 26, 2023
PubMed
Summary

Neural processing of face ensembles relies on shape and surface properties, with surface cues being more influential. Central face perception precedes surround faces, bridging single and ensemble face studies.

Keywords:
EEGface ensemblesneural dynamicspattern analysisshape cuessurface cues

More Related Videos

Analyzing Neural Activity and Connectivity Using Intracranial EEG Data with SPM Software
06:50

Analyzing Neural Activity and Connectivity Using Intracranial EEG Data with SPM Software

Published on: October 30, 2018

9.5K
Holistic Facial Composite Creation and Subsequent Video Line-up Eyewitness Identification Paradigm
09:49

Holistic Facial Composite Creation and Subsequent Video Line-up Eyewitness Identification Paradigm

Published on: December 24, 2015

14.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 7, 2025

Dynamic Digital Biomarkers of Motor and Cognitive Function in Parkinson's Disease
10:28

Dynamic Digital Biomarkers of Motor and Cognitive Function in Parkinson's Disease

Published on: July 24, 2019

15.2K
Analyzing Neural Activity and Connectivity Using Intracranial EEG Data with SPM Software
06:50

Analyzing Neural Activity and Connectivity Using Intracranial EEG Data with SPM Software

Published on: October 30, 2018

9.5K
Holistic Facial Composite Creation and Subsequent Video Line-up Eyewitness Identification Paradigm
09:49

Holistic Facial Composite Creation and Subsequent Video Line-up Eyewitness Identification Paradigm

Published on: December 24, 2015

14.2K

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Visual Perception
  • Electrophysiology

Background:

  • Extensive research exists on single face neural processing, focusing on shape and surface features.
  • Limited understanding surrounds the neural basis of face ensemble perception and the role of specific facial properties within these ensembles.
  • The processing of a central face within a larger group remains an open question.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the neural dynamics of face ensemble representation.
  • To elucidate the contribution of shape and surface properties to face ensemble processing.
  • To clarify how single central faces are processed within an ensemble context.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized pattern analyses on electrophysiology data from healthy adults.
  • Employed a unique stimulus set with parametrically varied shape and surface properties of facial identities.
  • Designed ensemble displays with a central face surrounded by six other faces.

Main Results:

  • Both shape and surface properties significantly contribute to face ensemble encoding, with surface properties showing a greater impact.
  • Neural processing of the central face within an ensemble occurs before the processing of surrounding faces.
  • Temporal decoding profiles for single faces and face ensembles diverge, while central face decoding resembles single face processing.

Conclusions:

  • The study introduces a novel center-surround paradigm to explore face ensemble processing dynamics.
  • Findings highlight the significant role of both shape and surface properties, particularly surface features, in encoding facial ensembles.
  • This research bridges the gap between the study of single face perception and face ensemble perception.