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Cited by 60Face Recognition and PerceptionEvolutionary Psychology and Human BehaviorFace recognition and analysis

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Gender Differences in Brain Activation During Encoding and Recognition of Male and Female Faces

Ino, Tadashi, Nakai, Ryusuke, Azuma, Takashi, Kimura, Toru, Fukuyama, Hidenao·2010·Brain Imaging and Behavior
DOI 10.1007/s11682-009-9085-0
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Abstract

Although behavioral studies have suggested that there are gender differences regarding facial recognition, the neural substrates of these differences have not been fully examined. In order to clarify them, we performed a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiment in which participants encoded and recognized male and female faces. Behaviorally, the facial recognition ability of men and women was similar, and was superior for female faces compared to male faces. At the neural level, widespread areas showed greater responses for men vs. women during the encoding and recognition phase, and several areas, including the hippocampal region, showed greater responses to female vs. male faces during recognition. The reduced activation of women's brains during encoding and recognition suggests that the relevant neural systems were more efficiently recruited in women than in men.

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Metadata

Authors
Ino, T., Nakai, R., Azuma, T., Kimura, T., & Fukuyama, H.
Affiliations
  • Rakuwakai Otowa Hospital (JP)
  • Kyoto University (JP)
Corresponding author
Ino, Tadashi
ORCID
Venue
Brain Imaging and Behavior
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2010-01-07
Volume
4
Issue
1
Pages
55-67
ISSN
  • 1931-7557 (ISSN-L)
  • 1931-7565
DOI
10.1007/s11682-009-9085-0
OpenAlex
W2031644720
Cited by
60
References
63
Citations by year
2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 6
FWCI
3.29
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • Brain Imaging and Behavior (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Face Recognition and Perception
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition › Face recognition and analysis
Keywords
gender differences, face recognition (cognition), face encoding, face perception, hippocampus, neural efficiency, female faces, male faces
MeSH terms
Adult, Brain, Brain Mapping, Face, Female, Humans, Learning, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Neuropsychological Tests, Pattern Recognition, Visual, Photic Stimulation, Reaction Time, Sex Characteristics, Visual Perception, Recognition, Psychology, Young Adult

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