Discriminating Grotesque from Typical Faces
Author Information
Author(s): Donnelly Nick, Zürcher Nicole R., Cornes Katherine, Snyder Josh, Naik Paulami, Hadwin Julie, Hadjikhani Nouchine
Primary Institution: School of Psychology, University of Southampton
Hypothesis
The study explores the neural and behavioral markers associated with the discrimination of thatcherized faces from typical faces.
Conclusion
The study found that upright grotesque faces are discriminated through activation of emotion and social evaluation processing areas, while inverted faces rely on perceptual processing areas.
Supporting Evidence
- The behavioral task confirmed the face specificity of the illusion.
- Upright grotesque faces activated a network of emotion processing areas.
- Inverted faces showed increased activation in perceptual processing areas.
- Participants were significantly faster at identifying upright faces compared to inverted ones.
- Eyes were found to be more influential than mouths in face discrimination.
Takeaway
This study shows that when we look at faces, we can tell if they look normal or weird, and our brains react differently depending on how the faces are turned.
Methodology
Participants completed a two-alternative forced choice task to discriminate between thatcherized and typical faces, with reaction times and errors measured, alongside fMRI imaging.
Limitations
The study's findings may not generalize beyond the specific face stimuli used.
Participant Demographics
The study included 30 participants, with 12 in the behavioral study and 18 in the imaging study, with a mean age of approximately 27 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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