Neuroimaging analysis suite

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The ability to recognize the identity and emotional expression of a human face is of critical importance in our daily lives. It is therefore not surprising that we are such experts at this ability and further, that specific regions within the brain appear to be devoted to face processing. Although it is clear that certain structures in the brain are related to face processing, there has been considerable debate in the scientific literature, about the precise roles of the brain regions that are involved. My research program examines the functional roles of the various structures in the brain that are thought to play a role in face processing and indeed which side (if any) of the brain plays a dominant role. This research program uses both behavioural and neuroimaging (fMRI) techniques to investigate the underlying representations used by these structures. I will use fMRI adaptation to measure the selectivity of face processing regions for visual attributes. This specialized equipment in this proposal is essential to develop, acquire, analyze and visualize data from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiments in my lab. My research program on face processing will answer fundamental questions about the roles of specific brain structures for face processing. The findings from this research program will have implications for the clinical evaluation and treatment of neurological deficits that result from damage to these areas of the brain. The equipment that I require is a powerful fMRI analysis tool that will allow for computationally demanding analyses and cutting-edge visualization of functional activation in the brain and for acquisition of subject responses in the magnetic environment. These research tools are a leader in the field of fMRI and is used by hundreds of labs around the world.