Infancy Task 5 Face processing
Learning goals:
1. Theories for face processing
2. Development of FP
3. Measurements and experiment paradigms for FP
4.
1. Theories for face processing
Postnatal brain development and the differentiation of the cerebral cortex
Protomap: differentiation of cerebral cortex because of unfolding of genetic map. Protocortex:
genetic and molecular factors build an initially undifferentiated cortex and then it becomes
divided into specialized areas as a result of activity within neural circuits.
Neurobiological evidence supports the importance of neural activity-dependent processes,
especially in higher cognitive functions. Postnatal experience has great effects: later
developing brain structures will eventually become largest and development is slowed, so the
cerebral cortex is large because it continues developing guided by postnatal experience.
Theory 1: Evidence for and against an innate cortical module
Three lines of evidence support the claim that there is a Protomap at work:
- Fusiform face area
Neuroimaging demonstrated that specific areas of the adult brain are selectively activated
during face processing, like the fusiform face area (FFA), a region of ventral temporal cortex
that lies anterior to V4. More active viewing faces than other things. Are involved with initial
encoding of faces and less in retaining memories.
- Face-slective cells in monkey cortex
Activity of single cells within the cortex can be face-selective. Measured by single cell
recording (electrodes in cortex) recording cell’s firing rate while showing a variety of fance
and non-face stimuli. Are especially commin in Tea and Tem of the inferior temporal cortex
and TPO of the superior temporal polysensory cortex. Infant monkeys respond similarly to
adults in TE. A small number of cells responsive to faces have been found but have not been
studied extensively.
- Newborns’ preference for faces
Newborns will move eyes and head to follow a face stimulus.
Is less localized and specialized, could be because of learning.
Theory 2: Two-process model of the development of face processing (ontogenetic view)
accounts for these 3 lines of evidence without assuming an innate cortical module dedicated
to faces
- Conspec, mediates the tendency for newborns to orient to faces early in life and is
largely mediated by the subcortical circuits. Changes in reponse to face-like patterns
(6 weeks: tracking declines, preference for longer visual fixation of faces emerges)
reflect the emergence of cortical systems in face processing. In hippocampus.
- Conlern, develops through activity-dependent specialization of cortical circuits in
response to face inputs.
Distinguish between specialization (increases in selectivity of response patterns of cortical
tissue in response to a particular input) and location (changes in extent of cortical area
activated by stimuli).
Learning goals:
1. Theories for face processing
2. Development of FP
3. Measurements and experiment paradigms for FP
4.
1. Theories for face processing
Postnatal brain development and the differentiation of the cerebral cortex
Protomap: differentiation of cerebral cortex because of unfolding of genetic map. Protocortex:
genetic and molecular factors build an initially undifferentiated cortex and then it becomes
divided into specialized areas as a result of activity within neural circuits.
Neurobiological evidence supports the importance of neural activity-dependent processes,
especially in higher cognitive functions. Postnatal experience has great effects: later
developing brain structures will eventually become largest and development is slowed, so the
cerebral cortex is large because it continues developing guided by postnatal experience.
Theory 1: Evidence for and against an innate cortical module
Three lines of evidence support the claim that there is a Protomap at work:
- Fusiform face area
Neuroimaging demonstrated that specific areas of the adult brain are selectively activated
during face processing, like the fusiform face area (FFA), a region of ventral temporal cortex
that lies anterior to V4. More active viewing faces than other things. Are involved with initial
encoding of faces and less in retaining memories.
- Face-slective cells in monkey cortex
Activity of single cells within the cortex can be face-selective. Measured by single cell
recording (electrodes in cortex) recording cell’s firing rate while showing a variety of fance
and non-face stimuli. Are especially commin in Tea and Tem of the inferior temporal cortex
and TPO of the superior temporal polysensory cortex. Infant monkeys respond similarly to
adults in TE. A small number of cells responsive to faces have been found but have not been
studied extensively.
- Newborns’ preference for faces
Newborns will move eyes and head to follow a face stimulus.
Is less localized and specialized, could be because of learning.
Theory 2: Two-process model of the development of face processing (ontogenetic view)
accounts for these 3 lines of evidence without assuming an innate cortical module dedicated
to faces
- Conspec, mediates the tendency for newborns to orient to faces early in life and is
largely mediated by the subcortical circuits. Changes in reponse to face-like patterns
(6 weeks: tracking declines, preference for longer visual fixation of faces emerges)
reflect the emergence of cortical systems in face processing. In hippocampus.
- Conlern, develops through activity-dependent specialization of cortical circuits in
response to face inputs.
Distinguish between specialization (increases in selectivity of response patterns of cortical
tissue in response to a particular input) and location (changes in extent of cortical area
activated by stimuli).
