Frontotemporal network contribution to occluded face processing

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Noroozi, Jalaledin; Rezayat, Ehsan; Dehaqani, Mohammad-Reza A.
• 署名单位: Tarbiat Modares University; Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences IPM; University of Tehran; University of Tehran
• 刊物名称: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0027-11103
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2407457121
• 发表日期: 2024-11-26
• 关键词: inferior temporal cortex; local-field potentials; prefrontal cortex; category representations; robust representations; area v4; selectivity; objects; perception; completion

摘要

Primates are known for their exceptional ability to recognize faces. However, we still have much to learn about how their brains process faces when they are partially hidden. When we cover parts of a face, it affects how our brains respond, even though we still perceive the face as a whole. This suggests that complex brain networks are at work in understanding partially hidden faces. To explore this further, we studied two brain regions, the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC) and the inferior temporal cortex (ITC), while showing primate images of faces with parts occluded. We found that vlPFC neurons were more active when faces were partially covered, while ITC neurons preferred fully visible faces. Interestingly, the ITC seemed to process occluded faces in a separate phase after the vlPFC responded. Our research revealed a coordinated effort between these brain regions based on the level of facial obstruction. Specifically, the vlPFC seemed to play a crucial role, driving the representation of occluded faces in the later phase of ITC processing. Importantly, we also found that the brain processes occluded faces differently from those that are fully visible, suggesting specialized mechanisms for handling these situations. These findings highlight the importance of feedback from the vlPFC in understanding occluded faces in the ITC region of the brain. Understanding these neural processes not only enhances our understanding of how primates perceive faces but also provides insights into broader aspects of visual cognition.