The Spectrum of Face-Sensitivity

     Face processing and recognition has been a unique topic to circulate the realm of neuroscience. Human beings are capable of recognizing faces and the significance of faces that are more familiar to us compared to everyday strangers we encounter. In addition, despite inanimate objects forming face like features, humans are still able to have the capability to tell between face-like and non-face like stimuli. Conte and colleagues explore the neurological aspect of face recognition between face like and non-face like stimuli and capture those responses within 1 year old infants. To further explore this concept, McKone and colleagues qualitatively explore the possibility of a critical period that is significant when recognizing faces of other races and how that is influential to society.

In “Face-sensitive brain responses in the first year of life”, Conte and colleagues analyzed neural responses specific to face-processing in young infants between 4.5 and 12 months of age. They recorded the infants’ EEG, ERP, and ECG heart rate recordings as they were shown pictures of faces and non-face like objects. Data from the P1, N290, P400, and Nc responses were recorded, and regions of the brain were localized specific to these face-processing activities. Results revealed that responses from the P1, N290, P400, and Nc were greater to faces than non-face like objects, and the P1, N290, P400 and Nc were localized in the lingual gyrus and anterior temporal pole, the temporal-parietal and temporal-occipital electrode, posterior cingulate areas, and the parahippocampal gyrus, respectively.

            Considering studies on infants possess undefined areas of understanding, Conte and colleagues highlight significant findings related to the specific mechanisms of face-processing at younger ages. What I found very interesting about this study is that their participants were from primarily Caucasian households and middle-class socioeconomic status. Regarding general scientific research, it is important to recognize bias and representation within scientific literature, so I became curious if brain activity specific to face-sensitivity would differ in infants of various racial and cultural heritage and socioeconomic status.

            In “A critical period for faces: Other-race face recognition is improved by childhood but not adult social contact”, McKone and colleagues perform a cross cultural study on face processing in Asian and Caucasian individuals at different ages who have either been Western-raised or born and raised in Australia. Individuals were shown faces strictly Asian, Caucasian, or some percentage mixed and completed questionnaires related to when they were exposed to such races at different ages of development, and their personal experience with other races growing up. McKone and colleagues found that face recognition abilities are more likely to change at a younger age compared to the age of adulthood. This study also brings in discussion of the experience of exposing children to other races at a younger age compared to when they are much older. The amount of exposure a child has to other races can have a significant influence on their face recognition and processing development that can also play a role in social biases and the underlying encouragement of insider and outsider groups.

            While McKone and colleagues study older participants in face recognition and processing, early development and exposure to different aspects related to faces have a very influential role on individual’s experience and even interpersonal interactions in society. It is intriguing to understand the neurological aspects of this unique experience at such an early age, and how that can also be influenced through cross cultural exposure within our environment. Not only can early findings like these create more understanding, but the more diverse inclusivity of these studies promotes an overall comprehension to our multicultural experience.

 

References

Conte, S., Richards, J. E., Guy, M. W., Xie, W., Roberts, J. E. (2020) Face-sensitive brain responses in the first year of life. Neuro Image 211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.116602

McKone et. al. (2019) A critical period for faces: Other-race face recognition is improved by childhood but not adult social contact. Scientific Reports. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-49202-0