Developmental prosopagnosics have normal spatial integration in posterior ventral face-selective regions
Daniel A Stehr1, Yiyuan Zhang2, Anusha Patgiri1
1Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA.
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|August 8, 2025
Summary
Developmental prosopagnosia (DP) is not caused by smaller population receptive fields (pRFs) in visual cortex. This study found similar pRF properties in individuals with DP and controls, challenging existing theories.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Visual Perception
Background:
- Population receptive field (pRF) mapping is a key neuroimaging technique.
- Linking pRF properties to behavioral deficits, like in developmental prosopagnosia (DP), is an active research area.
- DP is characterized by severe face recognition deficits, potentially linked to reduced spatial integration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between pRF properties and DP.
- To test the hypothesis that smaller pRFs in face-selective regions contribute to DP by limiting spatial integration.
- To evaluate pRFs across the visual hierarchy in a larger sample of individuals with DP.
Main Methods:
- Measured pRF properties in 20 individuals with DP and 20 controls.
- Utilized a stimulus designed to activate low- and high-level visual areas.
- Employed advanced methods for pRF mapping and modeling.
Main Results:
- Individuals with DP showed weaker face selectivity in ventral face-selective areas, consistent with prior studies.
- Crucially, pRF size, coverage, and center distribution were similar between DPs and controls across the visual hierarchy.
- No significant differences in pRF properties were observed between the groups.
Conclusions:
- The findings challenge theories that attribute DP to reduced spatial integration due to smaller pRFs.
- This study underscores the need for alternative explanations for the neural mechanisms underlying DP.
- The broader implications suggest a re-evaluation of the link between pRF properties and behavioral performance is necessary.
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