Neuronal Function in the Cortical Face Perception Network

Face perception is considered the most developed visual perceptual skill in humans. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have graphically illustrated that multiple regions exhibit a stronger neural response to faces than to other visual object categories, which were specialized for face processing. These regions are in the lateral side of the fusiform gyrus, the “fusiform face area” or FFA, in the inferior occipital gyri, the “occipital face area” or OFA, and in the superior temporal sulcus (pSTS). These regions are supposed to perform the visual analysis of faces and appear to participate differentially in different types of face perception. An important question is how faces are represented within these areas. In this chapter, the authors review the function, interaction, and topography of these regions relevant to face perception. They also discuss the human neural systems that mediate face perception and attempt to show some research dictions for face perception and neural representations.