Background: It is currently believed that face processing predominantly activates the right hemisphere in humans, but available literature is very inconsistent. Methodology/Principal Findings: In this study, ERPs were recorded in 50 right-handed women and men in response to 390 faces (of different age and sex), and 130 technological objects. Results showed no sex difference in the amplitude of N170 to objects; a much larger face-specific response over the right hemisphere in men, and a bilateral response in women; a lack of face-age coding effect over the left hemisphere in men, with no differences in N170 to faces as a function of age; a significant bilateral face-age coding effect in women. Conclusions/Significance: LORETA reconstruction showed a significant left and right asymmetry in the activation of the fusiform gyrus (BA19), in women and men, respectively. The present data reveal a lesser degree of lateralization of brain functions related to face coding in women than men. In this light, they may provide an explanation of the inconsistencies in the available literature concerning the asymmetric activity of left and right occipito-temporal cortices devoted to face perception during processing of face identity, structure, familiarity or affective content. © 2010 Proverbio et al.

Proverbio, A., Riva, F., Martin, E., Zani, A. (2010). Face coding is bilateral in the female brain. PLOS ONE, 5(6), e11242 [10.1371/journal.pone.0011242].

Face coding is bilateral in the female brain

PROVERBIO, ALICE MADO;
2010

Abstract

Background: It is currently believed that face processing predominantly activates the right hemisphere in humans, but available literature is very inconsistent. Methodology/Principal Findings: In this study, ERPs were recorded in 50 right-handed women and men in response to 390 faces (of different age and sex), and 130 technological objects. Results showed no sex difference in the amplitude of N170 to objects; a much larger face-specific response over the right hemisphere in men, and a bilateral response in women; a lack of face-age coding effect over the left hemisphere in men, with no differences in N170 to faces as a function of age; a significant bilateral face-age coding effect in women. Conclusions/Significance: LORETA reconstruction showed a significant left and right asymmetry in the activation of the fusiform gyrus (BA19), in women and men, respectively. The present data reveal a lesser degree of lateralization of brain functions related to face coding in women than men. In this light, they may provide an explanation of the inconsistencies in the available literature concerning the asymmetric activity of left and right occipito-temporal cortices devoted to face perception during processing of face identity, structure, familiarity or affective content. © 2010 Proverbio et al.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
ERPs; face coding; sex differences; hemispheric asymmetry; brain; perception; facial expressions
English
2010
5
6
e11242
e11242
open
Proverbio, A., Riva, F., Martin, E., Zani, A. (2010). Face coding is bilateral in the female brain. PLOS ONE, 5(6), e11242 [10.1371/journal.pone.0011242].
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Face_Coding_Is_Bilateral_in_the_Female_Brain.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia di allegato: Author’s Accepted Manuscript, AAM (Post-print)
Dimensione 495.18 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
495.18 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/11215
Citazioni
  • Scopus 58
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 54
Social impact