Friday, April 25, 2008

Neuronal activity related to faces and matching

Ojemann, J.G., Ojemann, G.A., & Lettich, E. (1992). Neuronal activity related to faces and matching in human right nondominant temporal cortex. Brain, 115, 1-13.

Using microelectrode recording, this group set out to look at changes in neuronal activity in response to faces, previously described in monkey cortex but not well established in humans. Recording was restricted to areas of right anterior temporal cortex that would be later resected in an epileptic lobectomy, areas that showed the least epileptic activity on electrocorticography. Seven neuronal populations related to face perception were identified. In addition, three other populations, only in middle temporal gyrus, increased activity with the labelling of the emotional expression of a face. The ease with which a given task can elicit specific, temporally-coupled changes in neuronal activity suggest that human association cortex is compartmentalized into behaviorally specific systems.

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