Processing faces in dyadic and triadic contexts
Section snippets
Processing faces in dyadic and triadic contexts
The ability to perceive others’ faces is crucial for understanding the world around us. Faces often mirror the internal state of a person and also provide important information that helps us to orientate in a complex environment. Previous research has shown that already from about 30 min after birth newborns exhibit a visual preference for both schematic and real faces in comparison to a variety of other types of stimuli, including upside down faces (Johnson and Morton, 1991, Macchi Cassia et
Participants
Sixteen infants (9 males and 7 females) were tested, at the average age of 3 months and 2 days (range from 2 months and 25 days to 3 months and 5 days). All infants were born full term (37–41 weeks) and were in the normal range for birth weight. Another 25 infants were tested but excluded from the final sample as a result of fussiness (n = 7), failing to reach the minimum requirements for adequate averaging of the ERP data (n = 12), or technical problems (n = 6). Each infant contributed 20–124 (mean =
Results
Typical deflections depicting visual stimulus processing were observed and analyzed on occipital and anterior channels1 (see Fig. 2). We did not find any significant main effects and interactions for the amplitude and latency of P1 and N170. We found a main effect of location for the amplitude of the Nc component (F(2,30) = 3.89, P < 0.05). Post hoc tests revealed that the amplitude at
Materials and methods
The procedure, the stimuli and the methods for data collection, data editing and statistical analysis were the same as in Experiment 1 with the only exception of a slightly smaller time window for the OR component (1100–1300 ms) on grounds of visual inspection.
Results
The shape of the grand average (see Fig. 3) looked similar to the one in Experiment 1. Visual inspection suggested a more negative N170 amplitude to scrambled faces (at the right occipital electrode), a tendency that approached significance (F(1,14) = 4.06, P = 0.06). A t-test revealed this tendency was generated by a difference between conditions at the right electrode (t(14) = 2.11, P = 0.05). Furthermore, we found a main effect of location for the Nc component (F(2,28) = 3.41, P < 0.05). As in
Participants
Seventeen infants (13 males and 4 females) participated in Experiment 3 (average age of 4 months and 4 days, ranged from 3 months and 26 days to 4 months and 7 days). All infants were born full term (37–41 weeks) and were in the normal range for birth weight. Additional 18 infants were tested but excluded from the final sample as a result of fussiness (n = 8), failing to reach the minimum requirements for adequate averaging of the ERP data (n = 7), or technical problems (n = 3). Each infant
Results
No significant results were found on P1.
Visual inspection of the data (see Fig. 4) suggested a similar and more pronounced N170-effect than observed in Experiment 2. Additionally, a difference between conditions appeared on anterior frontal channels.2
We found a main effect of stimulus for the N170 (F(1,15) = 12.42, P < 0.004) showing a more negative amplitude for the scrambled
Materials and methods
Materials and methods were identical with those of Experiment 3. Time windows were as in Experiment 1.
Results
The grand average (see Fig. 5) looked similar to the one in Experiment 1. No major differences between conditions were detectable by visual inspection. The statistical analysis did not yield significant results for amplitude and latency of the P1 and N170. For the Nc component, we found a main effect of location (F(2,30) = 5.99, P < 0.007). As in all previous experiments, post hoc tests revealed that the amplitude was more negative at the central anterior in comparison to left anterior location (P <
General discussion
This series of studies investigated face processing in dyadic and triadic contexts in 3- and 4-month-old infants. When infants were 3 months of age, there was no significant difference between canonical and scrambled faces for the P1, N170 and Nc. However, behavioral results by Macchi Cassia et al. (2006a) indicate that even at this age infants can discriminate between the two stimuli. Why this difference did not emerge in ERP measurement is a question that remains unresolved and deserves
Acknowledgements
The research was supported by the Sofja Kovalevskaja Award granted by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, donated by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, to T. Striano. E. Parise was also funded by a Humboldt Research Fellowship. We want to thank Stefanie Hoehl, Vincent M. Reid, Manuela Macedonia and Angela D. Friederici for comments and suggestions; Anna Gröndahl, Nora Casprzig, Letizia Palumbo and Astrid Emmerich for testing the infants. We are grateful to the infants and
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