Neural activation to upright and inverted faces in infants measured by near infrared spectroscopy

Abstract

The present study examined infants' brain activity in response to upright and inverted faces using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), which can non-invasively record hemodynamic changes of the brain. NIRS is particularly useful for recording in infants, since recordings can be made, even while the infants are awake, without fixing their body and brain. For this objective, we used newly developed sensor probes of NIRS for recording in infants. We measured changes in cerebral oxygenation in 10 5-8-month-olds' left and right lateral areas while they were looking at upright and inverted faces. The results are summarized as follows: (1) the concentration of oxyhemoglobin (oxy-Hb) and total hemoglobin (total-Hb) increased significantly in the right lateral area during the upright face condition, (2) the concentration of total-Hb in the right lateral area differed significantly between the upright and inverted conditions, (3) hemodynamic changes were maximal in the temporal region, probably in the superior temporal sulcus (STS) in both hemispheres, and (4) the right hemisphere seems to be more important for recognizing upright faces. This is the first evidence showing that there is an inter-hemispheric difference on the effect of face inversion in the infant brain using a hemodynamic method.

Eye contrast polarity is critical for face recognition by infants

“…Bhatt, et al, 2005;Otsuka et al, 2007;Turati, Sangrigoli, Ruely, & de Schonen, 2004) and adults (e.g. Yin, 1969).…”

Near-Infrared Spectroscopic Assessment of Haemodynamic Activation in the Cerebral Cortex - A Review in Developmental Psychology and Child Psychiatry

“…However, the oxy-haemoglobin and total-haemoglobin concentrations in 8-month-old infants increased for both frontal and profile views. These studies suggest that the right temporal hemisphere is specialised for face recognition in infants (Carlsson et al, 2008;Nakato et al, 2011;Nakato et al, 2009;Otsuka et al, 2007). Previous neuroimaging studies in adults also indicated that the right temporal cortex is involved in face recognition.…”

“…Haemodynamic changes during the face recognition process as assessed by NIRS have been documented in several studies (Blasi et al, 2007;Csibra et al, 2004;Grossmann et al, 2008;Honda et al, 2010;Ichikawa et al, 2010;Nakato et al, 2009Nakato et al, , 2011aNakato et al, , 2011bOtsuka et al, 2007). Newborns showed a spontaneous preference for face-like stimuli over non-face-like patterns (Fantz, 1961).…”

Long-term deficits of preterm birth: Evidence for arousal and attentional disturbances

“…These monitors are used clinically in Japan in rehabilitation/orthopedic settings, in neonatal intensive care units (continuous brain blood flow measured over the fontanelle), and emergency medicine applications. They are approved for research in the U.S. and are used, for example, to assess sensory and motor performance (Bortfeld et al 2007;Hatakenaka et al 2007;Otsuka et al 2007). Sampling occurred every 10sec over a 5 min baseline period, then every 10sec during the 10 min PVT test and during recording of each P50 potential ISI.…”