Task 5

Question 1

What is the name of the two theories for face recognition in infants?

Answer 1

Innate Cortical Face Module

Two-Process Model

Question 2

Which theory of face recognition assume that infants are born with an innate prototype that allows them to process faces?

Answer 2

Innate cortical face module

Question 3

The Two-Process model assert that there are two stages that constitute face processing. Name and describe them.

Answer 3

Conspec: newborns’ tendencies to orient their faces is largely mediated by subcortical circuits.

Conlern: face processing develops through activity-dependent specialization of cortical circuits in response to face inputs.

Question 4

How does the innate cortical face module differ from the two process model?

Answer 4

It assumes that face recognition is an inborn ability, whereas the two process model assert that yes, subcortical structures do make infants prone to orienting to faces (nature). But as they are exposed to face stimuli, their brain forms connections and create a prototype for face processing.

Question 5

Which area is primarily involved in face processing?

Answer 5

Fusiform Face Area (FFA)

Question 6

Which evidence support the innate cortical face module?

Answer 6

Activation of FFA when viewing faces than objects

Face responsibe cells in monkeys

Newborns’ preferences for faces: orient to faces than non-faces

Question 7

When does specialization of face recognition begin according to the two process model?

Answer 7

6-8 weeks

Question 8

If infants do not have an innate prototype as proposed by the innate cortical face module, how then can they recognize familiar faces (e.g. their caregivers)?

Answer 8

They rely on their hippocampus pre-explicit memory.

Infants rely on external contours of faces to recognize their mother’s face. They cannot recognize their mothers if they only see the internal facial features.

Question 9

Which ERP is sensitive to faces in adults?

Answer 9

N170

Question 10

What is N170?

Answer 10

An ERP that is sensitive to processing faces.

Question 11

Describe the N170.

Answer 11

It is sensitive for faces in adults.

It is characterized by a shorter peak latency & larger magnitude to upright faces compared to inverted faces

Question 12

The ERP for face processing in adults is N170. What is the ERP for face processing in infants?

Answer 12

P400

Question 13

Research shows that infants are able to discriminate between faces from other races and species. However, this ability eventually declines as they become specialized in processing faces from their own species and race.

At what age does this decline occur?

Answer 13

9 months

Question 14

Studies have shown that at 9 months infants’ ability to discriminate faces from other races and species diminish. However, they found that in some cases it is possible for infants to retain this ability.

Describe how this is possible in relation to the study conducted by Pascalis et al.

Answer 14

It is possible for infants to continue to discriminate and recognize other faces of other species beyond 9 months if they are continuously exposed to these species.

For example, Pascalis conducted an experiment where 6 month old infants where exposed to monkey faces until 9 months. When tested at 9 months they could tell the difference between the faces of these monkeys.

Question 15

Humans use different types of information to discriminate between faces.

What is the first-order relational information?

Answer 15

It is knowing the order of where certain features should be located on a face. e.g. eyes should be above nose.

Question 16

What is the second-order relational information?

Answer 16

It refers to the distances between facial features.

Question 17

One study investigated 5 month old and 9 month old abiltiy to infer second order relations on human faces, monkey faces, and houses.

What did they find?

Answer 17

Infants can discriminate changes in upright human faces, upright monkey faces, but not house stimuli.

They are mostly sensitive to second-order relational information in females.

Question 18

Previous studies have shown that infants can recognize their mother’s faces. The study by Zieber et al wanted to see if infants as young as 5 months and as old as 9 month can discriminate second order relation changes in male faces, monkey faces and house stimuli. They found that infants could not tell the difference in house stimuli but could for upright monkey and male faces.

Note that infants are usually more exposed to their mother’s faces and do not have much exposure to the monkey, male and house stimuli.

How then can they discriminate second order relations in monkey and male faces if they don’t have as much exposure to them?

Answer 18

They concluded that infants use the information from female faces to help guide them when identifying differences in distances between the eyes of monkey and male faces.