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Abstract:
In adults, certain components in the event-related potential
(ERP) consistently differ in amplitude and latency for upright
faces compared to other objects and patterns (Bentin et al. [1996],
J. Cog. Neurosci
,
8
, 551). These components are thought to reflect neural proceses
related to structural encoding of faces. The goal of this study was
to look at the development of face recognition by: a) determining
whether infants also show face-sensitive ERP components, and b)
comparing the timing and scalp distribution of the potentials at
the two ages. Event-related potentials were recorded using Geodesic
Sensor Nets (129 sensors for adults, 63 for infants) while adults (
n
=12) and 6-month-old infants (
n
=18) viewed colour images of upright and inverted human faces. In
adults the N170 component over occipito-temporal electrodes was: a)
of larger amplitude over the right than left side, and b) of larger
amplitude and longer latency for inverted than upright faces. For
infants, the difference between upright and inverted faces emerged
more slowly: the P400 over occipito-temporal electrodes was: a)
larger over the right than left side, and b) of larger amplitude
for upright than inverted faces. Independent Component Analysis
[Makeig, S., et al. (1997).
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA
,
94
, 10979] was also used to further compare the sources and
distribution of the voltages for individual subjectsd. Overall, the
results show that there are both similarities and differences in
the neural correlates of face processing by adults and
infants.
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