Gender, ethnicity, and recognizing faces

BaliBabyDoc

Lifer
Jan 20, 2001
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Biocompare
Researchers in Southern California have isolated brain regions that respond selectively to the cues of gender, ethnicity and identity in faces. Using a novel adaptation technique, they found evidence for neurons that are selectively tuned for gender, ethnicity and identity cues in an area not previously thought to be associated with face processing.
Study suggests we are wired pretty early to recognize differences in faces . . . familiar vs unfamiliar.

"A surprising percentage of the population -maybe 2 to 3% of the population- have a real inability to recognize faces or even tell if someone is a male or a female," says co-author Minna Ng, a graduate student at UCSD. "In the most extreme cases it's a clinical condition called prosopagnosia. Until now, most people assumed that difficulties with face recognition were due to cortical deficits near the fusiform gyrus. These data suggest that other brain regions may be involved. The fact that the cingulate gyrus is involved has some interesting implications for conditions like autism spectrum disorders."
The last part is particularly interesting b/c one of my specialties is autism and there's been confusing research about whether the face/social issues of the disorder can be readily localized or more diffuse.
 

WHAMPOM

Diamond Member
Feb 28, 2006
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Just part of the nine tenths of the human brain we don't use for logical thinking. Part of the hard wired functions we take for granted.
 

theMan

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Mar 17, 2005
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There is this disorder, forgot the name, but the people who have it have lost the connection between that recognition of a person, and their face. Even close friends and family members. Imagine seeing your mother; having no idea who she is, until she says it is her. man...
 

BaliBabyDoc

Lifer
Jan 20, 2001
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Originally posted by: theman
There is this disorder, forgot the name, but the people who have it have lost the connection between that recognition of a person, and their face. Even close friends and family members. Imagine seeing your mother; having no idea who she is, until she says it is her. man...

"A surprising percentage of the population -maybe 2 to 3% of the population- have a real inability to recognize faces or even tell if someone is a male or a female," says co-author Minna Ng, a graduate student at UCSD. "In the most extreme cases it's a clinical condition called prosopagnosia.
 

aidanjm

Lifer
Aug 9, 2004
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Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc
Study suggests we are wired pretty early to recognize differences in faces . . . familiar vs unfamiliar.

it's interesting that many assume immediately that these alleged differences are 'hardwired', as opposed to learned or 'environmental'. and yet if I was to suggest that sexual orientation was hard-wired there would be a howl of protest.
 

aidanjm

Lifer
Aug 9, 2004
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Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc
The last part is particularly interesting b/c one of my specialties is autism and there's been confusing research about whether the face/social issues of the disorder can be readily localized or more diffuse.

some folks with autism or autistic sprectrum disoreders would object to your blase use of the term disorder.
 

BaliBabyDoc

Lifer
Jan 20, 2001
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Originally posted by: aidanjm
Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc
The last part is particularly interesting b/c one of my specialties is autism and there's been confusing research about whether the face/social issues of the disorder can be readily localized or more diffuse.

some folks with autism or autistic sprectrum disoreders would object to your blase use of the term disorder.

Maybe the NAMI mommies but the scientific reality is what it is. Autism as a diagnosis is a clinical syndrome just like schizophrenia but neither has needed qualification as being autism 'disorder' or schizophrenia 'syndrome'. The more recent broadening of the diagnostic regime to include conditions such as pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger syndrome . . . has fostered the development of the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) categorization.

In general, most people within the spectrum wouldn't be all that concerned whether I called it ailment, impairment, disorder, condition, or syndrome. Our patients are uniformly indifferent, that doesn't mean we are indifferent to them. In that context, there's no need to make up a PC characterization of what's gone wrong.

one of our other favorite brain structures in autism - the amygdala
 

aidanjm

Lifer
Aug 9, 2004
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you should get yourself checked out for neurotypical syndrome

http://joyofautism.blogspot.com/2006/01/neurotypical-syndrome.html

autistic liberation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism_rights_movement

autistic culture

"Autistic culture holds a concept that autism, as a valid and unique way of being, should be embraced and appreciated, not shunned or cured. This is sometimes called neurodiversity or the anti-cure perspective."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autistic_culture

Neurodiversity

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurodiversity

"Neurodiversity is a concept that atypical (neurodivergent) neurological wiring is a normal human difference that is to be tolerated and respected as any other human difference[citation needed]. The concept of neurodiversity was created by some autistic individuals and people with related conditions, who believe that autism is not a disorder, but a part of who they are, and that curing autistic people would be the same as destroying their original personalities and replacing them with different people."


 

aidanjm

Lifer
Aug 9, 2004
12,411
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Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc
In general, most people within the spectrum wouldn't be all that concerned whether I called it ailment, impairment, disorder, condition, or syndrome. Our patients are uniformly indifferent, that doesn't mean we are indifferent to them. In that context, there's no need to make up a PC characterization of what's gone wrong.

"what's gone wrong"..?

it's a matter of respect. your comments seem to suggest a lack of respect and a real lack of interest in the inner life of your clients.
 

BaliBabyDoc

Lifer
Jan 20, 2001
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Originally posted by: aidanjm
Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc
Study suggests we are wired pretty early to recognize differences in faces . . . familiar vs unfamiliar.

it's interesting that many assume immediately that these alleged differences are 'hardwired', as opposed to learned or 'environmental'. and yet if I was to suggest that sexual orientation was hard-wired there would be a howl of protest.

I'm not sure that's an appropriate way to characterize the study. The Results essentially show that the brain has specific processing for discordant facial info . . . mismatch of gender or facial features from what the subject EXPECTS. That's not an uncommon motif in the brain.

The consensus is that Mother Nature gives all humans a general operational motif of structure and function, which is then modified through experience. Something can be hardwired AND learned. In essence, the very survival neurons is dependent both on the preplanned layout (experience-independent) and subsequent reinforcing stimuli (experience-dependent). In fact, most human cognitive, emotional, psychological functions are nature and nurture not either-or.

The big picture is to say there appears to be a well established network in the preschooler brain that allows one to rapidly discern the human face. Arguably, that integrates pretty well given the human face has a multitude of features and capabilities. In fact, the peak in synapse formation for neurons responsible for vision (and hearing) peak in the first few months, although what we can SEE a kid do with it appears quite limited. I haven't read the paper so it will be interesting to see their Methods.

As far as comparison to sexual orientation, it doesn't hold in part b/c that's a complex social behavior. The imaging study wasn't looking at racism, love, or anything of that sort. The application is more appropriate to developmental disorders like autism and schizophrenia b/c both show relatively clear evidence of aberrant face (facial expression) recognition both the physical execution and what happens in the brain. But attributing significance is not equivalent to knowing what MEANING is attributable to different processing methods in the brain of 'differentially abled people'.;)
 

BaliBabyDoc

Lifer
Jan 20, 2001
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Originally posted by: aidanjm
Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc
In general, most people within the spectrum wouldn't be all that concerned whether I called it ailment, impairment, disorder, condition, or syndrome. Our patients are uniformly indifferent, that doesn't mean we are indifferent to them. In that context, there's no need to make up a PC characterization of what's gone wrong.

"what's gone wrong"..?

it's a matter of respect. your comments seem to suggest a lack of respect and a real lack of interest in the inner life of your clients.

They aren't clients. They are children. And there aren't many people that are more interested in the inner life of a child with autism than I am.

Some children within the spectrum (on the fringes) function OK. I don't see many of those. We don't treat diseases or disorders. We do help kids and families find solutions to difficulties. So obviously no one from 'neurodiversity' or 'autistic liberation' need worry. There is no cabal planning an XMen3-type cure for being 'different.'
 

aidanjm

Lifer
Aug 9, 2004
12,411
2
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Originally posted by: BaliBabyDoc
As far as comparison to sexual orientation, it doesn't hold in part b/c that's a complex social behavior.

it's more realistic to view sexual orientation as a personality trait (established early in life, stable throughout life, etc.). it's not that controversial to suggest that certain personality trait like introversion/ extroversion are hardwired. I think the comparison is reasonable.