Representation of face-prior precision

Abstract

Perception is an active inference in which perceptual priors are combined with sensory input. It is still unclear how the precision of prior expectations is represented in the human brain. Prior precision could be represented with prior content itself in sensory regions. Alternatively, there could be distinct, specialized brain regions that represent precision separately from the content of the prior. Here, we used multivariate functional resonance imaging to test whether the precision of face priors can be measured together with expected face identity in facesensitive regions. During face anticipation, representations of expected face identity increased with prior precision in the face-sensitive anterior temporal lobe. In contrast, during face presentation, representations of face identity increased with surprise in the fusiform face area and the insula. Our findings suggest that precision of face priors is represented in higher-level face areas. These priors seem to influence the representation of face input in lower-level face regions and additional specialized brain regions which signal surprise to unexpected stimuli.