PSYC30018 Lecture Notes - Spring 2018 Lecture 4 - Halle Berry, Occipital lobe, Fusiform face area
Document Summary
Neural basis of face processing in humans. Human adaptation: tsao & livingstone (2008) faces adapt just like neurons. Adaptation with sustained stimulation, neurons typically reduce the amount that they fire. Upright faces switching of perception between two faces (one dominating over the other at any one point in time) Non-human studies: single cell recordings finding parts of the brain we believe to respond exclusively to face and recording neural activity in that area. Observed mostly macaque because they serve as a good model for humans similar visual system and similar socially. Sheep also seem to have face selective neurons: kobatake & tanaka (1994) primate face cells in inferior temporal (it) cortex require an intact face and are not selective for individual features presented in isolation. Actual faces vs. cartoon faces images that look most like faces (typical configuration) trigger the greatest responses; removing some features leads to a complete lack of response.
