Viewpoint dependence in adaptation to facial identity.
We produced morph sequences between identities at a variety of viewpoints, ranging from the three quarter leftward facing view, to the three quarter rightward facing view. We measured the strength of identity adaptation as a function of changing test viewpoint whilst keep the adaptation viewpoint constant, and as a function of adaptation viewpoint whilst keeping test viewpoint constant. Our results show a substantial decrease in adaptation as the angle between adaptation and test viewpoint increases. These findings persisted when we introduced controls for low-level retinotopic adaptation, leading us to conclude that our results show strong evidence for viewpoint dependence in the high-level encoding of facial identity. Our findings support models in which identity is encoded, to a large degree, by viewpoint dependent non-retinotopic neural mechanisms. Functional imaging studies suggest the fusiform gyrus as the most likely location for this mechanism.
Benton
Christopher P
CP
Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Bristol, 8 Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1TN, UK. chris.benton@bristol.ac.uk
Jennings
Sarah J
SJ
Chatting
David J
DJ
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011601:Psychophysics; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*