The dynamics of the two neural routes related to recognition of facial expressions

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26870465
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Basic / Social brain science; Cognitive science
• Research Institution: Sapporo Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Shinozaki Jun 札幌医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (30510953)
• Research Collaborator: NAGAHAMA Hiroshi 札幌医科大学, 医学部, 研究員 (20725676)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 顔認知 / 近親者 / fMRI / 多ボクセルパターン解析 / デコーディング / 紡錘状回 / 扁桃体

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The previous studies have shown that the 2 neural routes are important for facial recognition of strangers; the fusiform gyrus for person identity and the amygdala for facial expression. These studies have examined the face recognition of strangers, but it was unknown whether the close relatives' face was processed by the two same routes.
Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with multi-voxel pattern analysis (MVPA), we clarified that the left fusiform gyrus is involved in both person identification and recognition of facial expressions of close relatives.
Therefore, in facial recognition of close relatives, the conventional face cognitive model do not apply. We propose a new model for recognition of close relatives' face; an one route model.

Free Research Field

認知神経科学