Abstract
.Face-specific neural processes in the human brain have been localized to multiple anatomical structures and associated with diverse and dynamic social functions. The question of how various face-related systems and functions may be bound together remains an active area of investigation. We hypothesize that face processing may be associated with specific frequency band oscillations that serve to integrate distributed face processing systems. Using a multimodal imaging approach, including electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), simultaneous signals were acquired during face and object picture viewing. As expected for face processing, hemodynamic activity in the right occipital face area (OFA) increased during face viewing compared to object viewing, and in a subset of participants, the expected N170 EEG response was observed for faces. Based on recently reported associations between the theta band and visual processing, we hypothesized that increased hemodynamic activity in a face processing area would also be associated with greater theta-band activity originating in the same area. Consistent with our hypothesis, theta-band oscillations were also localized to the right OFA for faces, whereas alpha- and beta-band oscillations were not. Together, these findings suggest that theta-band oscillations originating in the OFA may be part of the distributed face-specific processing mechanism.
Highlights
The human face is a universally salient social stimulus that conveys uniquely valuable information to a viewer with the potential to influence the viewer’s actions, thoughts, and emotions
There is some evidence to support a hierarchical model of face perception, in which visual input travels from the primary visual cortex first to the occipital face area (OFA), and on to the fusiform face area (FFA) and to the right superior temporal sulcus.[1,8,11]
EEG signals in the frequency of the theta band showed spatial localization to the right OFA during face presentation, whereas alpha and beta band activity was not localized to this area
Summary
The human face is a universally salient social stimulus that conveys uniquely valuable information to a viewer with the potential to influence the viewer’s actions, thoughts, and emotions. Many neuroimaging studies document that human neural systems differentiate faces from other visual stimuli. There is some evidence to support a hierarchical model of face perception, in which visual input travels from the primary visual cortex first to the OFA, and on to the FFA and to the right superior temporal sulcus.[1,8,11] If true, this model suggests that the OFA plays an important role in the early stages of face processing
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