3-A-D-1-21. Hemispheric lateralization of face and word recognition in the visual cortices: A high-density ERP study

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Background The neuroimaging literature suggests that there are two areas in the fusiform gyri (FG): face area is predominantly present in the right FG while visual word form area in the left FG. The aim of this study was to elucidate the hemispheric specialization for face and word processing in the visual pathway by using ERPs. Methods Eighteen right-handed healthy volunteers (9 female, 21–27 years old) were examined. Four types of stimuli (faces, objects, Chinese characters, and scrambled characters) were presented to each hemi-field randomly. ERPs were recorded by a 128-ch high density EEG machine. Results Regardless of the stimulus type and presentation side, the occipital P100 amplitudes were not significantly different. In contrast, the right occipito-temporal N170 amplitude was significantly larger in response to faces in the left visual field than that of faces in the right visual field. However, left hemispheric superiority was not observed in the responses to Chinese characters. No significant hemi-filed effect was also found in the responses to objects and scrambled characters. Conclusion The fact that face recognition is acquired in much earlier developmental period than word learning may result in the hemispheric specialization for the face in the visual pathway.