FACE RECOGNITION IN HUMAN EXTRASTRIATE CORTEX

1. Twenty-four patients with electrodes chronically implanted on the s urface of extrastriate visual cortex viewed faces, equiluminant scramb led faces, cars, scrambled cars, and butterflies. 2. A surface-negativ e potential, N200, was evoked by faces but not by the other categories of stimuli. N200 was recorded only from small regions of the left and right fusiform and inferior temporal gyri. Electrical stimulation of the same region frequently produced a temporary inability to name fami liar faces. 3. The results suggest that discrete regions of inferior e xtrastriate visual cortex, varying in location between individuals, ar e specialized for the recognition of faces. These ''face modules'' app ear to be intercalated among other functionally specific small regions .