What functional brain studies have revealed about face and facial expression perception?

Abstract

The models of face perception mechanisms have been substantially extended recently by the results obtained with functional brain mapping studies. The current paper reviews the studies that help to define more precisely the functional organization of the distributed facial system. We explore the issue of independence versus interrelation of face identification and expression recognition; compare the mechanisms of static and dynamic faces perception, as well as face-in-context perception. We emphasize the importance of higher ecological validity of face perception and its brain mechanisms.

Keywords

• fMRI
• face perception
• facial expressions
• dynamic expression
• face in context
• FFA
• STS
• OFA
• distributed brain system for face perception