September 2011
Volume 11, Issue 11
Free
Vision Sciences Society Annual Meeting Abstract  |   September 2011
On the development of human face-processing abilities: Evidence for hyperactivation of the extended face system in children
Author Affiliations
  • Frank Haist
    Psychiatry Department, University of California, San Diego, USA
    Center for Human Development, University of California, San Diego, USA
  • Maha Adamo
    Center for Human Development, University of California, San Diego, USA
  • Jarnet Han
    Center for Human Development, University of California, San Diego, USA
  • Kang Lee
    Institute of Child Study, University of Toronto, USA
  • Joan Stiles
    Center for Human Development, University of California, San Diego, USA
    Cognitive Science Department, University of California, San Diego, USA
Journal of Vision September 2011, Vol.11, 461. doi:https://doi.org/10.1167/11.11.461
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      Frank Haist, Maha Adamo, Jarnet Han, Kang Lee, Joan Stiles; On the development of human face-processing abilities: Evidence for hyperactivation of the extended face system in children. Journal of Vision 2011;11(11):461. https://doi.org/10.1167/11.11.461.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Multiple regions in the human brain respond preferentially to visual face stimuli. Functionally, these regions are organized around a “core” system primarily responsible for perceptual analysis, and an “extended” system associated with non-visual functions related to emotional, semantic, and dynamic analysis of faces. Recent evidence suggests that some of these regions, specifically in the core system, undergo protracted development extending into adolescence; however, few studies have examined the development of face-processing systems using whole-brain measures. Here, we report functional MRI findings from 30 children (6–12 years), 20 adolescents (13–16 years), and 21 adults (18–40 years) tested in a simple blocked-design viewing task for faces, diverse objects, watches, and scrambled stimuli (i.e., localizer task). A region of interest (ROI) analysis focused on the right fusiform face area (rFFA), the area within the fusiform gyrus where a Faces > Objects contrast was significant (p < 0.005). Consistent with recent reports using visual recognition paradigms, FFA volume showed a linear increase with age. Regression analysis of whole-brain BOLD signal intensity showed a positive correlation of age within the right occipital face area (OFA). Thus, two primary components of the core system were positively correlated with age. In striking contrast, children produced significantly greater activation relative to adults in multiple regions outside of ventral occipital-temporal cortex, specifically in regions within the extended system, including bilateral amygdala, precuneus, and inferior frontal gyrus. The findings indicate that a prolonged developmental trajectory is observed in other face preferential regions in addition to areas in the core system. More critically, the activation patterns suggest that children do not modulate activity within the extended system during simple face viewing whereas adults limit face-preferential processing to regions in the core system. Thus, modulation of activation to faces must be a key component in perceptual development.

NIH/NICHD R01 HD060595. 
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