THE NEUROCOGNITIVE BASIS OF GAZE PERCEPTION

提出的fMRI研究探讨了眼睛凝视感知的神经认知基础。这项研究的理论基础来自神经生理学和神经影像学研究，这些研究表明，颞叶皮层的区域在处理凝视信息时是活跃的。对猴子神经元反应的研究表明，颞上沟的细胞转向凝视方向和头部方向，这表明这些细胞可能编码被观察人的注意力方向（Perrett et al, 1994）。此外，对眼睛凝视知觉（Hoffman & Haxby, 1999）和眼口运动（Puce et al, 1998）的fMRI研究显示，颞外侧区被激活，其中心位于颞上底。最后，一项使用PET的研究发现，当受试者进行眼神接触时，杏仁核会被激活（Kawashima et al,1999）。总的来说，这些研究表明，眼睛注视处理的神经网络包括颞上丘和杏仁核，但在其中，任务需求的细微变化会影响每个区域的激活程度。提出的研究计划试图定义这两种结构在分析眼睛注视信息时的不同作用。此外，识别眼睛注视处理的神经系统可能为社会信号处理模型提供基础。例如，这个实验将提供来自社会来源（眼睛）和非社会来源（箭头）的相同方向线索的处理信息。一个全面的模型将需要比较许多不同类型的社会信号（例如手势，面部表情等），眼睛凝视感知可能为未来的研究提供一个模板。

The proposed fMRI research investigates the neurocognitive basis of eye gaze perception. Theoretical foundations of the study stem from neurophysiological and neuroimaging research suggesting that regions of the temporal cortex are active in the processing of gaze information. Research investigating neuronal responses in monkeys shows that cells in the superior temporal sulcus are turned to gaze direction and head orientation, suggesting that these cells may be coding the direction of attention of an observed person (Perrett et al, 1994). In addition, fMRI studies of eye gaze perception (Hoffman & Haxby, 1999) and eye and mouth movements (Puce et al 1998) have shown activation in the lateral temporal area, centered in the superior temporal solcus. Finally, one study using PET found amygdala activation when subjects were engaged in detecting eye contact (Kawashima et al,1999). Collectively, these studies suggest a neural network of eye gaze processing which includes the superior temporal solcus and amygdala, but in which subtle changes in task demands influence the degree of activation in each area. The proposed research plan attempts to define the differential role of these two structures in analyzing information from eye gaze. Additionally, identifying a neural system for eye gaze processing may provide a foundation for a model of social signal processing. For example, this experiment will provide information about the processing of the same directional cue from a social source (eyes) and a non-social source (an arrow). Throw a comprehensive model will meed to compare many different types of social signals (e.g. gestures, facial expressions, etc.), eye gaze perception may provide a template for future investigations.