Ahs Fredrik, Engman Jonas, Persson Jonas, Larsson Elna-Marie, Wikström Johan, Kumlien Eva, Fredrikson Mats
Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Department of Radiology, Oncology and Radiation Science, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Neuropsychologia. 2014 Aug;61:291-8. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2014.06.030. Epub 2014 Jul 5.
Face perception depends on activation of a core face processing network including the fusiform face area, the occipital face area and the superior temporal sulcus (STS). The medial temporal lobe (MTL) is also involved in decoding facial expression and damage to the anterior MTL, including the amygdala, generally interferes with emotion recognition. The impairment in emotion recognition following anterior MTL injury can be a direct result from injured MTL circuitry, as well as an indirect result from decreased MTL modulation of areas in the core face network. To test whether the MTL modulates activity in the core face network, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate activation in the core face processing network in patients with right or left anterior temporal lobe resections (ATR) due to intractable epilepsy. We found reductions of face-related activation in the right STS after both right and left ATR together with impaired recognition of facial expressions. Reduced activity in the fusiform and the occipital face areas was also observed in patients after right ATR suggesting widespread effects on activity in the core face network in this group. The reduction in face-related STS activity after both right and left ATR suggests that MTL modulation of the STS may facilitate recognition of facial expression.
面部感知依赖于一个核心面部处理网络的激活，该网络包括梭状回面孔区、枕颞面孔区和颞上沟（STS）。内侧颞叶（MTL）也参与面部表情的解码，而包括杏仁核在内的前内侧颞叶损伤通常会干扰情绪识别。前内侧颞叶损伤后情绪识别受损可能是受损的内侧颞叶神经回路的直接结果，也可能是内侧颞叶对核心面部网络区域调节减少的间接结果。为了测试内侧颞叶是否调节核心面部网络的活动，我们使用功能磁共振成像来研究因难治性癫痫而接受右侧或左侧前颞叶切除术（ATR）的患者核心面部处理网络的激活情况。我们发现，右侧和左侧ATR后，右侧颞上沟中与面部相关的激活减少，同时面部表情识别受损。右侧ATR后的患者还观察到梭状回和枕颞面孔区的活动减少，表明该组对核心面部网络的活动有广泛影响。右侧和左侧ATR后与面部相关的颞上沟活动减少表明，内侧颞叶对颞上沟的调节可能有助于面部表情的识别。
