Abstract
We routinely need to process the identity of many faces around us, and how the brain achieves this is still the subject of much research in cognitive neuroscience. To date, insights on face identity processing have come from both healthy and clinical populations. However, in order to directly compare results across and within participant groups, and across different studies, it is crucial that a standard task is utilized which includes different exemplars (for example, non-face stimuli along with faces), is memory-neutral, and taps into identity matching across orientation and across viewpoint change. The goal of this study was to test a previously behaviourally tested face and object identity matching design in a healthy control sample whilst being scanned using fMRI. Specifically, we investigated categorical, orientation, and category-specific orientation effects while participants were focused on identity matching of simultaneously presented exemplar stimuli. Alongside observing category and orientation specific effects in a distributed set of brain regions, we also saw an interaction between stimulus category and orientation in the bilateral fusiform gyrus and bilateral middle occipital gyrus. Generally these clusters showed the pattern of a heightened response to inverted versus upright faces, and to upright, as compared to inverted shoes. These results are discussed in relation to previous studies and to potential future research within prosopagnosic individuals.
Highlights
It has long been understood that faces are special
Cognitive psychology experiments have revealed phenomena such as the part-whole effect, which shows that it is easier to recognize a face part when it is presented as part of a whole face, rather than on its own; the composite effect, which shows that people have difficulties recognizing the top half of a face if it is aligned with a non-corresponding bottom half; and the faceinversion effect (FIE), where recognition of inverted faces is less accurate than recognition of upright faces
Face specificity was seen in the right fusiform gyrus, right precentral gyrus, right middle frontal gyrus, and right lingual gyrus
Summary
It has long been understood that faces are special. Cognitive psychology experiments have revealed phenomena such as the part-whole effect, which shows that it is easier to recognize a face part when it is presented as part of a whole face, rather than on its own; the composite effect, which shows that people have difficulties recognizing the top half of a face if it is aligned with a non-corresponding bottom half; and the faceinversion effect (FIE), where recognition of inverted faces is less accurate than recognition of upright faces These effects have been used to demonstrate the holistic nature of face processing, which appears to be more marked for faces as compared to other objects (e.g., Yin, 1969).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
