title: Effects of contrast inversion on face perception depend on gaze location: Evidence from the N170 component.
abstract: Face recognition is known to be impaired when the contrast polarity of the eyes is inverted. We studied how contrast affects early perceptual face processing by measuring the face-sensitive N170 component to face images when the contrast of the eyes and of the rest of the face was independently manipulated. Fixation was either located on the eye region or on the lower part of a face. Contrast-reversal of the eyes triggered delayed and enhanced N170 components independently of the contrast of other face parts, and regardless of gaze location. Similar N170 modulations were observed when the rest of a face was contrast-inverted, but only when gaze was directed away from the eyes. Results demonstrate that the contrast of the eyes and of other face parts can both affect face perception, but that the contrast polarity of the eye region has a privileged role during early stages of face processing.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck College , University of London , London , UK.
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck College , University of London , London , UK.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Towler
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck College , University of London , London , UK.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eimer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005123:Eye; D000066499:Facial Recognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005403:Fixation, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012938:Social Perception; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Face perception; N170 component; contrast inversion; event-related brain potentials