Processing the Trees and the Forest during Initial Stages of Face Perception: Electrophysiological Evidence

2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 1406-1421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shlomo Bentin ◽  
Yulia Golland ◽  
Anastasia Flevaris ◽  
Lynn C. Robertson ◽  
Morris Moscovitch
Keyword(s):  
Face Perception ◽  
Face Processing ◽  
Spatial Relations ◽  
Event Related Potential ◽  
Configural Processing ◽  
Face Identification ◽  
Ample Evidence ◽  
Potential Component ◽  
Processing Resources ◽  
Global And Local

Although configural processing is considered a hallmark of normal face perception in humans, there is ample evidence that processing face components also contributes to face recognition and identification. Indeed, most contemporary models posit a dual-code view in which face identification relies on the analysis of individual face components as well as the spatial relations between them. We explored the interplay between processing face configurations and inner face components by recording the N170, an event-related potential component that manifests early detection of faces. In contrast to a robust N170 effect elicited by line-drawn schematic faces compared to line-drawn schematic objects, no N170 effect was found if a pair of small objects substituted for the eyes in schematic faces. However, if a pair of two miniaturized faces substituted for the eyes, the N170 effect was restored. Additional experiments ruled out an explanation on the basis of miniaturized faces attracting attention independent of their location in a face-like configuration and show that global and local face characteristics compete for processing resources when in conflict. The results are discussed as they relate to normal and abnormal face processing.

Early Face Processing Specificity: It's in the Eyes!

2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (11) ◽  
pp. 1815-1826 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roxane J. Itier ◽  
Claude Alain ◽  
Katherine Sedore ◽  
Anthony R. McIntosh
Keyword(s):  
Face Processing ◽  
Visual Processing ◽  
Neural Model ◽  
Superior Temporal Sulcus ◽  
Event Related Potential ◽  
Configural Processing ◽  
Response Modulation ◽  
N170 Amplitude ◽  
Specific Effects ◽  
The Face

Unlike most other objects that are processed analytically, faces are processed configurally. This configural processing is reflected early in visual processing following face inversion and contrast reversal, as an increase in the N170 amplitude, a scalp-recorded event-related potential. Here, we show that these face-specific effects are mediated by the eye region. That is, they occurred only when the eyes were present, but not when eyes were removed from the face. The N170 recorded to inverted and negative faces likely reflects the processing of the eyes. We propose a neural model of face processing in which face- and eye-selective neurons situated in the superior temporal sulcus region of the human brain respond differently to the face configuration and to the eyes depending on the face context. This dynamic response modulation accounts for the N170 variations reported in the literature. The eyes may be central to what makes faces so special.

Of Mannequins and Men

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason C. Deska ◽  
Steven M. Almaraz ◽  
Kurt Hugenberg
Keyword(s):  
Face Perception ◽  
Face Processing ◽  
Configural Processing ◽  
Perceptual Similarity ◽  
Face Inversion ◽  
Interactive Product ◽  
Spontaneous Activation ◽  
Human Faces ◽  
Configural Face Processing ◽  
Processing Mechanisms

Recent research has demonstrated that ascribing minds to humanlike stimuli is a product of both their perceptual similarity to human faces and whether they engaged configural face processing. We present the findings of two experiments in which we both manipulate the amount of humanlike features in faces (in a doll-to-human morph continuum) and manipulate perceivers’ ability to employ configural face processing (via face inversion) while measuring explicit ratings of mind ascription (Study 1) and the spontaneous activation of humanlike concepts (Study 2). In both studies, we find novel evidence that ascribing minds to entities is an interactive product of both having strong perceptual similarity to human faces and being processed using configural processing mechanisms typical of normal face perception. In short, ascribing mind to others is bounded jointly by the featural cues of the target and by processes employed by the perceiver.

scholarly journals Initial eye gaze to faces and its functional consequence on face identification abilities in autism spectrum disorder

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly B. Schauder ◽  
Woon Ju Park ◽  
Yuliy Tsank ◽  
Miguel P. Eckstein ◽  
Duje Tadin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Eye Movement ◽  
Face Perception ◽  
Face Processing ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Face Identification ◽  
Identification Performance ◽  
Functional Consequence ◽  
The Face

Abstract Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder defined and diagnosed by core deficits in social communication and the presence of restricted and repetitive behaviors. Research on face processing suggests deficits in this domain in ASD but includes many mixed findings regarding the nature and extent of these differences. The first eye movement to a face has been shown to be highly informative and sufficient to achieve high performance in face identification in neurotypical adults. The current study focused on this critical moment shown to be essential in the process of face identification. Methods We applied an established eye-tracking and face identification paradigm to comprehensively characterize the initial eye movement to a face and test its functional consequence on face identification performance in adolescents with and without ASD (n = 21 per group), and in neurotypical adults. Specifically, we presented a series of faces and measured the landing location of the first saccade to each face, while simultaneously measuring their face identification abilities. Then, individuals were guided to look at specific locations on the face, and we measured how face identification performance varied as a function of that location. Adolescent participants also completed a more traditional measure of face identification which allowed us to more fully characterize face identification abilities in ASD. Results Our results indicate that the location of the initial look to faces and face identification performance for briefly presented faces are intact in ASD, ruling out the possibility that deficits in face perception, at least in adolescents with ASD, begin with the initial eye movement to the face. However, individuals with ASD showed impairments on the more traditional measure of face identification. Conclusion Together, the observed dissociation between initial, rapid face perception processes, and other measures of face perception offers new insights and hypotheses related to the timing and perceptual complexity of face processing and how these specific aspects of face identification may be disrupted in ASD.

Face Inversion Effect Emerges Under Critical Configural Discrepancy

2010 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 161-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jisien Yang ◽  
Adrian Schwaninger
Keyword(s):  
Face Recognition ◽  
Face Processing ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Inversion Effect ◽  
Configural Processing ◽  
Major Contributor ◽  
Face Inversion Effect ◽  
Configural Information ◽  
Face Inversion ◽  
The Face

Configural processing has been considered the major contributor to the face inversion effect (FIE) in face recognition. However, most researchers have only obtained the FIE with one specific ratio of configural alteration. It remains unclear whether the ratio of configural alteration itself can mediate the occurrence of the FIE. We aimed to clarify this issue by manipulating the configural information parametrically using six different ratios, ranging from 4% to 24%. Participants were asked to judge whether a pair of faces were entirely identical or different. The paired faces that were to be compared were presented either simultaneously (Experiment 1) or sequentially (Experiment 2). Both experiments revealed that the FIE was observed only when the ratio of configural alteration was in the intermediate range. These results indicate that even though the FIE has been frequently adopted as an index to examine the underlying mechanism of face processing, the emergence of the FIE is not robust with any configural alteration but dependent on the ratio of configural alteration.

scholarly journals The COVID-19 pandemic masks the way people perceive faces

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erez Freud ◽  
Andreja Stajduhar ◽  
R. Shayna Rosenbaum ◽  
Galia Avidan ◽  
Tzvi Ganel
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Face Perception ◽  
Face Processing ◽  
Qualitative Change ◽  
Daily Activities ◽  
Human Face ◽  
Human Face Recognition ◽  
Processing Abilities ◽  
Partially Occluded ◽  
The Way

AbstractThe unprecedented efforts to minimize the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic introduce a new arena for human face recognition in which faces are partially occluded with masks. Here, we tested the extent to which face masks change the way faces are perceived. To this end, we evaluated face processing abilities for masked and unmasked faces in a large online sample of adult observers (n = 496) using an adapted version of the Cambridge Face Memory Test, a validated measure of face perception abilities in humans. As expected, a substantial decrease in performance was found for masked faces. Importantly, the inclusion of masks also led to a qualitative change in the way masked faces are perceived. In particular, holistic processing, the hallmark of face perception, was disrupted for faces with masks, as suggested by a reduced inversion effect. Similar changes were found whether masks were included during the study or the test phases of the experiment. Together, we provide novel evidence for quantitative and qualitative alterations in the processing of masked faces that could have significant effects on daily activities and social interactions.

Short-term mobilization of processing resources is revealed in the event-related potential

2003 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 914-923 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Falkenstein ◽  
Jörg Hoormann ◽  
Joachim Hohnsbein ◽  
Thomas Kleinsorge
Keyword(s):  
Event Related Potential ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Processing Resources

scholarly journals Longitudinal study of a NoGo-P3 event-related potential component following mild traumatic brain injury in adults

2018 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gian Candrian ◽  
Andreas Müller ◽  
Patrizia Dall’Acqua ◽  
Kyveli Kompatsiari ◽  
Gian-Marco Baschera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Event Related Potential ◽  
Potential Component

scholarly journals Stereotyping Among Graduate Students in Mental Health Fields: An EEG Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wesley B. Webber ◽  
Firat Soylu ◽  
Joy J. Burnham
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Graduate Students ◽  
Black Men ◽  
White Women ◽  
Event Related Potential ◽  
Multicultural Awareness ◽  
Potential Component ◽  
Implicit Stereotyping ◽  
Diverse Groups ◽  
Behavioral Markers

Counselors are obligated to work effectively with diverse groups, yet human tendencies towards stereotyping and biases can impede counselors’ efforts. Understanding implicit social cognition and factors that might affect it is important because implicit stereotyping and biases can have effects in counselors’ work. In this study we hypothesized that graduate students in mental health fields would show indicators of stereotyping in an implicit experiment. The experiment utilized neural and behavioral dependent measures (N400 event-related potential component and reaction time) to indicate stereotyping. We also hypothesized that mindful observing and multicultural awareness would moderate stereotyping effects. Our first hypothesis was partially supported, as participants showed neural and behavioral markers of stereotyping towards black men and white women. Our hypotheses regarding moderators were not supported, as these stereotyping effects were not moderated by mindful observing or multicultural awareness. Implications for counseling practice and research are discussed.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document