Altering second-order configurations reduces the adaptation effects on early face-sensitive event-related potential components

Abstract

The spatial distances among the features of a face are commonly referred to as second-order relations, and the coding of these properties is often regarded as a cornerstone in face recognition. Previous studies have provided mixed results regarding whether the N170, a face-sensitive component of the event-related potential, is sensitive to second-order relations. Here we investigated this issue in a gender discrimination paradigm following long-term (5 s) adaptation to normal or vertically stretched male and female faces, considering that the latter manipulation substantially alters the position of the inner facial features. Gender-ambiguous faces were more likely judged to be female following adaptation to a male face and vice versa. This aftereffect was smaller but statistically significant after being adapted to vertically stretched when compared to unstretched adapters. Event-related potential recordings revealed that adaptation effects measured on the amplitude of the N170 show strong modulations by the second-order relations of the adapter: reduced N170 amplitude was observed, however, this reduction was smaller in magnitude after being adapted to stretched when compared to unstretched faces. These findings suggest early face-processing, as reflected in the N170 component, proceeds by extracting the spatial relations of inner facial features.

Neural correlates of facilitations in face learning by selective caricaturing of facial shape or reflectance

“…Note also that both the N170 and P200 shape caricature effects in the Kaufmann and Schweinberger (2012) study were monotonically related to the level of caricaturing (35% vs. 70%), and the N170 effects were not consistent for moderate levels of caricaturing. It is therefore plausible that the reliability of an early onset of shape effects in the N170 time-window depends on both type and degree of shape manipulation, and this idea appears to be consistent with the available evidence (Caharel et al, 2009;Schulz et al, 2012a;Vakli et al, 2014).…”

Mismatch negativity and neural adaptation: Two sides of the same coin. Response: Commentary: Visual mismatch negativity: a predictive coding view

“…Results of visual ERP studies of adaptation have been variable. Several studies reported attenuation of some ERP components (Schweinberger et al, 2004 ; Fiebach et al, 2005 ; Kovács et al, 2006 ; Harris and Nakayama, 2007 ; Huber et al, 2008 ; Caharel et al, 2009 ; Vizioli et al, 2010 ; Vakli et al, 2014 ). However, some of the above and other studies (Puce et al, 1999 ; Andrade et al, 2015 ) also observed repetition enhancement, or no change.…”

Effects of Caricaturing in Shape or Color on Familiarity Decisions for Familiar and Unfamiliar Faces

“…For familiar faces over the right hemisphere (RH), there was a main effect of caricature level, F (3,90) = 2.75, p = .047, η p 2 = .084, due to a linear trend, F (1,30) = 8.98, p = .005, η p 2 = .230, and no effects of face type. Over the LH for unfamiliar faces there was a main effect of caricature level, F (3,90) = 8.78, p < .000, η p 2 = .226, ε HF = .856, which interacted with face type, F (6,180) = 3.25, p = .005, η p 2 = .098: Main effects of caricature level were found for unfamiliar SC, F (3,90) = 12.74, p < .001, η p 2 = .298, and FC, F (3,90) = 3.35, p = .022, η p 2 = .100, due to linear trends ( F [ 1 , 30 ] = 38.48, p < .001 η p 2 = .562 for SC, and F [ 1 , 30 ] = 12.56, p = .001, η p 2 = .295 for FC; Fig 4 ). Finally, over the RH for unfamiliar faces there was a main effect of caricature level, F (3,90) = 3.43, p = .020, η p 2 = .103, due to a linear trend, F (1,30) = 10.48, p = .003, η p 2 = .259, with no effects of face type.…”

“…The N170 component shows a high degree of sensitivity to faces compared to other stimulus classes [ 25 ], is typically not affected by familiarity [ 26 – 28 ], and is often associated with face detection and structural encoding [ 21 , 22 ]. Note also that N170 is affected by facial shape [ 29 , 30 ] and has been shown to be larger for shape caricatures [ 31 , 32 ]. The subsequent P200 has been found to be smaller for shape caricatures [ 24 , 31 ] and larger for anti-caricatures [ 24 ], and may thus be a marker of perceived shape typicality.…”