BACKGROUND: Debates about the developmental origins of adult face processing could be directly addressed if a clear infant neural marker could be identified. Previous research with infants remains open to criticism regarding the control stimuli employed. METHODS: We recorded ERPs from adults and 3-month-old infants while they watched faces and matched visual noise stimuli. RESULTS: We observed similar amplitude enhancement for faces in the infant N290 and adult N170. In contrast, the infant P400 showed only a latency effect, making it unlikely to be the main precursor of the adult N170. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that there is some degree of specificity of cortical processing of faces as early as 3 months of age.
BACKGROUND: Debates about the developmental origins of adult face processing could be directly addressed if a clear infant neural marker could be identified. Previous research with infants remains open to criticism regarding the control stimuli employed. METHODS: We recorded ERPs from adults and 3-month-old infants while they watched faces and matched visual noise stimuli. RESULTS: We observed similar amplitude enhancement for faces in the infant N290 and adult N170. In contrast, the infantP400 showed only a latency effect, making it unlikely to be the main precursor of the adult N170. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that there is some degree of specificity of cortical processing of faces as early as 3 months of age.
Authors: Benjamin J Balas; Charles A Nelson; Alissa Westerlund; Vanessa Vogel-Farley; Tracy Riggins; Dana Kuefner Journal: Front Hum Neurosci Date: 2010-02-22 Impact factor: 3.169
Authors: Ross E Vanderwert; Alissa Westerlund; Lina Montoya; Sarah A McCormick; Helga O Miguel; Charles A Nelson Journal: Dev Neurobiol Date: 2014-06-26 Impact factor: 3.964