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Norm-based face encoding by single neurons in the monkey inferotemporal cortex

Author

Listed:
  • David A. Leopold

    (Max Planck Institut für biologische Kybernetik
    National Institutes of Health)

  • Igor V. Bondar

    (Max Planck Institut für biologische Kybernetik
    Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Sciences)

  • Martin A. Giese

    (University Clinic Tübingen)

Abstract

An eye for a face More than 30 years ago, the discovery of face-selective neurons was reported in the inferotemporal cortex of monkeys. Despite dozens of subsequent reports of such 'face cells', and a general assumption that such neurons were likely to be involved in face recognition, little has been done since to compare spiking responses with the vast human psychophysical literature on face perception. But now a new set of experiments links face-selective neurons in the monkey inferotemporal cortex with a well-established psychological dimension of face perception. The study, in macaque monkeys trained to recognize computer-generated human faces, showed that the monkeys recognized a face by comparison to an average or 'norm' stored in their brains, not by memorizing what every individual looks like. A similar mechanism operating in humans might explain how we can recognize a face in a fraction of a second.

Suggested Citation

  • David A. Leopold & Igor V. Bondar & Martin A. Giese, 2006. "Norm-based face encoding by single neurons in the monkey inferotemporal cortex," Nature, Nature, vol. 442(7102), pages 572-575, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:442:y:2006:i:7102:d:10.1038_nature04951
    DOI: 10.1038/nature04951
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    Cited by:

    1. Elena N. Waidmann & Kenji W. Koyano & Julie J. Hong & Brian E. Russ & David A. Leopold, 2022. "Local features drive identity responses in macaque anterior face patches," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Ulrik W. Nash, 2019. "The Wisdom of a Kalman Crowd," Papers 1901.08133, arXiv.org.

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