Abstract
Face perception is mediated by a distributed brain network comprised of the core system at occipito-temporal areas and the extended system at other relevant brain areas involving bilateral hemispheres. In this study we explored how the brain connectivity changes over the time for face-sensitive processing. We investigated the dynamic functional connectivity in face perception by analyzing time-dependent EEG phase synchronization in four different frequency bands: theta (4–7 Hz), alpha (8–14 Hz), beta (15–24 Hz), and gamma (25–45 Hz) bands in the early stages of face processing from 30 to 300 ms. High-density EEG were recorded from subjects who were passively viewing faces, buildings, and chairs. The dynamic connectivity within the core system and between the extended system were investigated. Significant differences between faces and non-faces mainly appear in theta band connectivity: (1) at the time segment of 90–120 ms between parietal area and occipito-temporal area in the right hemisphere, and (2) at the time segment of 150–180 ms between bilateral occipito-temporal areas. These results indicate (1) the importance of theta-band connectivity in the face-sensitive processing, and (2) that different parts of network are involved for the initial stage of face categorization and the stage of face structural encoding.
Highlights
When looking around, humans can spot faces almost instantaneously
We examined the connectivity between the occipito-temporal areas and other brain areas to explore the dynamical interaction between the core system and the extended system in face perception
This study reveals the dynamic functional connectivity between brain areas during passively viewing upright faces
Summary
Face perception is one of the highly developed visual recognition skills in primates and human beings. Despite the quick and effortless recognition of faces, face perception involves complex neuronal mechanisms for face-sensitive processing (Ellis, 1986; Rolls et al, 1992; Bentin and Deouell, 2000). Evidence for face-sensitive processing has been shown in many studies (Puce et al, 1995; Nelson, 2001; Halit et al, 2003). Measuring dynamic brain responses while briefly presenting the stimulus (an image of a face), i.e., event-related potentials (ERPs), have been widely used to investigate face perception (Bentin and Deouell, 2000). The most well-known face-sensitive ERP component is N170, a negative potential measured over the bilateral occipito-temporal areas at around 170 ms after stimulus onset. Besides N170, many studies have found a positive potential sensitive to face stimuli
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