title: Altering second-order configurations reduces the adaptation effects on early face-sensitive event-related potential components.
abstract: The spatial distances among the features of a face are commonly referred to as second-order relations, and the coding of these properties is often regarded as a cornerstone in face recognition. Previous studies have provided mixed results regarding whether the N170, a face-sensitive component of the event-related potential, is sensitive to second-order relations. Here we investigated this issue in a gender discrimination paradigm following long-term (5 s) adaptation to normal or vertically stretched male and female faces, considering that the latter manipulation substantially alters the position of the inner facial features. Gender-ambiguous faces were more likely judged to be female following adaptation to a male face and vice versa. This aftereffect was smaller but statistically significant after being adapted to vertically stretched when compared to unstretched adapters. Event-related potential recordings revealed that adaptation effects measured on the amplitude of the N170 show strong modulations by the second-order relations of the adapter: reduced N170 amplitude was observed, however, this reduction was smaller in magnitude after being adapted to stretched when compared to unstretched faces. These findings suggest early face-processing, as reflected in the N170 component, proceeds by extracting the spatial relations of inner facial features.
authors: Department of Cognitive Science, Budapest University of Technology and Economics Budapest, Hungary.
authors: Pál
authors: P
authors: Vakli
authors: Department of Cognitive Science, Budapest University of Technology and Economics Budapest, Hungary.
authors: Kornél
authors: K
authors: Németh
authors: Department of Cognitive Science, Budapest University of Technology and Economics Budapest, Hungary.
authors: Márta
authors: M
authors: Zimmer
authors: Institute of Psychology, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena Jena, Germany ; DFG Research Unit Person Perception, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena Jena, Germany.
authors: Stefan R
authors: SR
authors: Schweinberger
authors: Department of Cognitive Science, Budapest University of Technology and Economics Budapest, Hungary ; Institute of Psychology, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena Jena, Germany ; DFG Research Unit Person Perception, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena Jena, Germany.
authors: Gyula
authors: G
authors: Kovács
keywords: N170; face aftereffect; face processing; neural adaptation; second-order relations