Development of Specialized Neural Networks for Face Recognition Expertise

处理面孔的能力对于个体的适应性和早期功能至关重要。 缺陷可能与社交和人际困难有关(例如，自闭症、面容失认症)。行为 研究表明，在典型的人脸加工发展过程中呈现出一条旷日持久的轨迹。然而，功能磁共振研究 需要用来识别其潜在的神经网络。行为研究表明经验的重要性 在面孔再认的发展过程中，儿童对自己种族的认知优于其他种族 面孔。这项拟议的研究利用了这一现象，使用功能磁共振成像来检查这种发展。 面孔处理系统和神经网络的差异化招募作为面孔种族的函数。这个 这项研究的长期目标是检查面孔下大脑区域的功能发育。 在典型的儿童发育方面的处理专业知识。 一些针对成年人的研究表明，不同种族的面孔会产生不同的大脑网络。 这里描述的有指导的研究是第一次检查这些网络的发展。 功能连接性分析显示，许多不同的大脑区域网络显示出更大的 在儿童和成人中，非种族面孔的激活都是如此。中国的发展变化 面孔选择性在更主动的种族分类任务中比在相对被动的种族分类任务中更明显 查看条件。对梭形回面部选择性的检查，以及全脑结果和 功能连通性分析共同表明，对特定脑区的招募 在儿童和成人中，种族以不同的方式受到任务需求的调节。 R00阶段将检查与年龄相关的网络连接变化作为面孔竞赛的函数 熟悉使用脑电对5岁以下儿童的影响。它还将检查脸部的变化 扫描和由实验诱导的经验形成的专门神经网络的出现 通过一个新的人脸竞赛类别来揭示i)体验如何产生相对于其他人脸最优的人脸扫描 认识二)经验如何在这一过程中改变神经网络的组成和组织 获得专业知识的途径，以及ii)通往神经网络专业化的道路可能会随着年龄的变化而变化。

The ability to process faces is of utmost importance for individuals to function adaptively, and early deficits can be associated with social and interpersonal difficulties (e.g., autism, prosopagnosia). Behavioral studies show a protracted trajectory in the typical development of face processing. However, fMRI studies are needed to identify its underlying neural network. Behavioral studies show the importance of experience in the development of face recognition evident in children's superior recognition of own-race than other-race faces. The proposed research capitalizes on this phenomenon by using fMRI to examine the development of the face processing system and differential recruitment of neural networks as a function of face race. The long-term goal of this research is to examine the functional development of brain regions underlying face processing expertise in typically developing children. A handful of studies with adults suggest distinct brain networks recruited for own- and other-race faces. The mentored research described here was the first to examine the development of these networks. Functional connectivity analysis revealed a number of distinct networks of brain regions showing greater activation for other- than for own-race faces in both children and adults. Developmental changes in face-selectivity were more pronounced in a more active race categorization task than in a relatively passive viewing condition. An examination of face-selectivity in the fusiform gyrus, as well as whole-brain results and functional connectivity analysis collectively suggest that recruitment of select brain regions in response to race is modulated by task demands in different ways in children and adults. The R00 phase will examine age-related changes in network connectivity as a function of face race familiarity using EEG with children as young as 5 years of age. It will also examine changes in face scanning and the emergence of a specialized neural network shaped by experimentally-induced experience with a novel category of face race to reveal i) how experience produces face scanning optimal to other-face recognition ii) how experience changes the composition and organization of a neural network in the process of acquiring expertise, and ii) how the path to neural network specialization might vary with age.