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Social and perceptual decisions predict differences in face inversion neural correlates: Implications for development
Cailee M Nelson1,2,3, Sara Jane Webb4,5, Caitlin M Hudac1,2,3
1Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.
Social Neuroscience
|November 27, 2024
Summary
This study shows that how we process faces changes with age and task demands. Decisions influence neural responses to faces, especially in adolescents, highlighting developmental differences in social attention.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Social attention is crucial for social cognition and processing social cues.
- Both endogenous and exogenous attention are vital for social feature processing.
- Limited research systematically examines how experimental manipulations affect social attention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how endogenous and exogenous manipulations of a face inversion task impact ERP activity in adults and adolescents.
- To explore developmental differences in neural responses to faces during specific tasks.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a classic face inversion task with both endogenous and exogenous manipulations.
- Recorded electroencephalography (EEG) to measure event-related potential (ERP) activity.
- Compared neural responses between adult (n=71) and adolescent (n=65) groups.
Main Results:
- Study 1: A social perceptual decision increased the P3 inversion effect without altering P1 or N170.
- Study 2: Adolescents and adults showed opposing N170 inversion effects.
- Adolescents exhibited no P3 effect, unlike adults.
Conclusions:
- Face perception neural markers are sensitive to task-based decisions, particularly exogenous ones.
- Neural responses to faces show significant developmental changes during adolescence.
- Task design and age are critical factors influencing neural responses to faces, necessitating careful consideration in research.
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