Experience dependent repetition probability effects in the temporal cortex M Grotheer, G Kovács |
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Person Perception Research Unit, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany
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| The magnitude of Repetition Suppression (RS) is influenced by the probability of face repetition (Summerfield et al. 2008), implying that perceptual expectations affect repetition related processes in the Fusiform Face Area (FFA). Surprisingly, however, later macaque (Kaliukhovich and Vogels, 2012) and human fMRI (Kovács et al, 2012) studies failed to find such repetition probability (Prep) effects with non-face stimuli (every-day objects and chairs). Thus, it is an unresolved question whether these effects are specific for faces or not. One possibility is that the extensive experience with faces affects the Prep effects. To address this question we used an identical fMRI RS design (n=20) as previous studies, testing the Prep effects for faces and another well trained non-face stimulus category (upright letters of the Roman alphabet). We observed significant RS in the FFA for faces and in the Fusiform Word Form Area for letters. More importantly, this RS was dependent on the Prep of stimuli for both stimulus categories. Our findings, in combination with previous studies, suggest that Prep effects on RS depend on the experience of the subjects with the applied stimulus category. |
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