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Rapid integration of face detection and task set in visually guided reaching
David Y Mekhaiel1,2,3, Melvyn A Goodale2,3,4, Brian D Corneil2,3,4,5
1Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
The European Journal of Neuroscience
|August 20, 2024
Summary
Faces influence rapid muscle responses, demonstrating the brainstem
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Visuomotor processing
- Human motor control
Background:
- The superior colliculus (SC) is involved in processing evolutionarily relevant stimuli like faces.
- The SC is implicated in express visuomotor responses (EVRs), rapid muscle activity bursts (~80 ms) linked to visual targets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of faces on EVRs.
- To determine the behavioral relevance of face processing in the SC.
- To explore the role of top-down cortical control in EVRs.
Main Methods:
- Recorded upper limb muscle activity in healthy participants during reaching tasks with visual targets and distractors.
- Used faces as stimuli in some experiments, varying instructions on target/distractor roles.
- Assessed muscle recruitment modulation based on stimulus identity and task context.
Main Results:
- EVRs were modulated by high-contrast faces, influencing reach direction (toward/away) based on instructions.
- This effect required salient, repeated faces and was not observed with non-facial stimuli or varied facial affects.
- Face stimuli impacted muscle recruitment at short latencies, preceding cortical face perception.
Conclusions:
- The SC mediates EVRs, with faces significantly influencing this process.
- Demonstrates the behavioral relevance of brainstem face detection.
- Highlights the role of top-down cortical input in modulating EVRs based on task demands.
