Comparing Face and Object Processing in Perception and Recognition

Abstract

Faces can be speedily processed, although they convey an immense amount of information. Hence, in psychophysiological experiments, human faces constitute very special stimuli! Numerous studies have investigated the electrophysiological correlates of face processing, showing the existence of multiple event-related components. Nevertheless, dissimilarities in various levels of processing are still controversial. In this present study, we used magnetoencephalography (MEG) to examine how facial processing is different in perception and recognition from object processing and also determined 95% confidence interval for the onset and peak time of the effects we found. Our results confirm the face-selectivity for the M170 component, but not always for the M100 component. Additionally, we observed a unique speed pattern for the M170 component in perception and recognition both at the onset and the peak time.