Sex-contingent face aftereffects suggest distinct neural populations code male and female faces

Little, A.C., Debruine, L.M. and Jones, B.C. (2005) Sex-contingent face aftereffects suggest distinct neural populations code male and female faces. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B: Biological Sciences, 272, pp. 2283-2287. (doi: 10.1098/rspb.2005.3220)

Abstract

Exposure to faces biases perceptions of subsequently viewed faces. Faces similar to those seen previously are judged more normal and attractive than they were prior to exposure. Here we show sex-contingent aftereffects following adaptation to eye-spacing (Experiment 1), facial identity (Experiment 2) and masculinity (Experiment 3). Viewing faces of one sex with increased eye-spacing and faces of the other sex with decreased eye-spacing simultaneously induced opposite aftereffects for male and female faces (assessed by normality judgments). Viewing faces transformed in identity or masculinity increased preferences for novel faces with characteristics similar to those viewed only when the sex of the faces presented in the adaptation phase and in post-adaptation preference tests were congruent. Because aftereffects reflect changes in responses of neural populations that code faces, our findings indicate that distinct neural populations code male and female faces.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: DeBruine, Professor Lisa and Jones, Professor Benedict
• Authors: Little, A.C., Debruine, L.M., and Jones, B.C.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
• Journal Name: Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B: Biological Sciences
• Publisher: The Royal Society
• ISSN: 0962-8452
• Published Online: 01 September 2005