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Distinct spatial frequency sensitivities for processing faces and emotional expressions
Open accessAbstract
High and low spatial frequency information in visual images is processed by distinct neural channels. Using event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in humans, we show dissociable roles of such visual channels for processing faces and emotional fearful expressions. Neural responses in fusiform cortex, and effects of repeating the same face identity upon fusiform activity, were greater with intact or high-spatial-frequency face stimuli than with low-frequency faces, regardless of emotional expression. In contrast, amygdala responses to fearful expressions were greater for intact or low-frequency faces than for high-frequency faces. An activation of pulvinar and superior colliculus by fearful expressions occurred specifically with low-frequency faces, suggesting that these subcortical pathways may provide coarse fear-related inputs to the amygdala.
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“A seminal functional magnetic resonance imaging study by Vuilleumier et al. (2003) has revealed that this important brain structure is essentially 'blind' to all but the lowest visible spatial frequencies (>6 cycles/ image).”
From Oxytocin enhances pupil dilation and sensitivity to 'hidden' emotional expressions (2013) · cites this paper as Vuilleumier et al., 2003
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“This validated stimulus set [47] has been used in numerous social cognitive reaction time studies [48], [5], [49]”
From A direct examination of the effect of intranasal administration of oxytocin on approach-avoidance motor responses to emotional stimuli (2013) · cites this paper as [49]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Vuilleumier, P., Armony, J. L., Driver, J., & Dolan, R. J.
- Affiliations
- University of Geneva (CH)
- University College London (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Vuilleumier, Patrik
- Venue
- Nature Neuroscience
- Published
- 2003-05-12
- Volume
- 6
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 624-631
- ISSN
- 1097-6256 (ISSN-L)
- 1546-1726
- OpenAlex
- W2144016834
- Cited by
- 1,117
- References
- 52
- Citations by year
- 2026: 29 · 2025: 33 · 2024: 31 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 37 · 2020: 47 · 2019: 46 · 2018: 50 · 2017: 62 · 2016: 69 · 2015: 60 · 2014: 61 · 2013: 71 · 2012: 67
- FWCI
- 19.67
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Licence
- other-oa
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Nature Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
- Max Planck Digital Library (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Archive ouverte UNIGE (University of Geneva) (submittedVersion)
- Archive ouverte UNIGE (University of Geneva) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Face Recognition and Perception
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition › Face recognition and analysis
- Keywords
- spatial frequency, face processing, emotional facial expressions, fear, fusiform gyrus, amygdala, pulvinar, superior colliculus
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Amygdala, Brain, Brain Mapping, Cerebral Cortex, Emotions, Face, Female, Humans, Functional Laterality, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Pattern Recognition, Visual, Reaction Time, Sex Characteristics, Visual Pathways, Observer Variation
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