The Time Course of the Perception of Animacy: Evidence from ERP

doi:10.12139/j.1672-0628.2022.05.001

Abstract

Abstract: In this study, we examined the dynamic time courses of electrophysiological activity during the processing of animacy faces by parametric design using event-related potentials (ERPs). The results showed that inanimacy faces evoked more late positive potential (LPP) amplitude than animacy faces in the central-parietal region. Furthermore, the LPP amplitudes evoked by animacy and inanimacy faces were both significantly larger than that evoked by intermediate animacy strength (60%) faces, suggesting that the electrical signal pattern of LPP changed into a U-shape with the increase in animacy strength. There were no differences between animacy and inanimacy faces in P1 and N170. These results suggest that animacy is processed at the later stage of facial processing, and LPP is an effective index of detection of animacy on face. The results support the two-stage theory of the perception of animacy on face.

Key words: face processing, perception of animacy, ERP

摘要： 本研究采用事件相关电位技术，通过参数设计考察了大脑加工面孔生命性时的神经电活动动态进程。结果显示：非生命性面孔比生命性面孔在中央顶区诱发了更大的LPP波幅；生命性和非生命性面孔诱发的LPP波幅均显著大于中间等级（60%）面孔，提示随生命性信息增强，LPP波幅呈“U”型变化。P1和N170未表现出面孔类别差异。结果表明LPP是探测面孔生命性加工的有效成分，支持面孔生命性加工位于面孔加工的晚期阶段的观点。

关键词: 面孔加工, 生命性知觉, 事件相关电位

CLC Number:

B842

JIN Hua, YAN Shizhen, SHAN Jinlei, LIU Ting. The Time Course of the Perception of Animacy: Evidence from ERP[J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2022, 20(5): 577-584.

金花, 严世振, 单金磊, 刘婷. 面孔生命性加工的时间进程：ERP研究[J]. 心理与行为研究, 2022, 20(5): 577-584.

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