Network Interactions Explain Sensitivity to Dynamic Faces in the Superior Temporal Sulcus.
The superior temporal sulcus (STS) in the human and monkey is sensitive to the motion of complex forms such as facial and bodily actions. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to explore network-level explanations for how the form and motion information in dynamic facial expressions might be combined in the human STS. Ventral occipitotemporal areas selective for facial form were localized in occipital and fusiform face areas (OFA and FFA), and motion sensitivity was localized in the more dorsal temporal area V5. We then tested various connectivity models that modeled communication between the ventral form and dorsal motion pathways. We show that facial form information modulated transmission of motion information from V5 to the STS, and that this face-selective modulation likely originated in OFA. This finding shows that form-selective motion sensitivity in the STS can be explained in terms of modulation of gain control on information flow in the motion pathway, and provides a substantial constraint for theories of the perception of faces and biological motion.
MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge CB2 7EF, UK.
Nicholas
N
Furl
MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge CB2 7EF, UK.
Richard N
RN
Henson
Wellcome Centre for Imaging Neuroscience, University College London, 12 Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK.
Karl J
KJ
Friston
MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge CB2 7EF, UK.
Andrew J
AJ
Calder
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001931:Brain Mapping; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology*; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011336:Probability; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
D010100:Oxygen
biological motion; dynamic causal modeling; face perception; functional magnetic resonance imaging; superior temporal sulcus