Neurofunctional signature of hyperfamiliarity for unknown faces

E. Negro, F. D'Agata, P. Caroppo, M. Coriasco, F. Ferrio, A. Celeghin, M. Diano, E. Rubino, B. de Gelder, I. Rainero, L. Pinessi, M. Tamietto*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Hyperfamiliarity for unknown faces is a rare selective disorder that consists of the disturbing and abnormal feeling of familiarity for unknown faces, while recognition of known faces is normal. In one such patient we investigated with a multimodal neuroimaging design the hitherto undescribed neural signature associated with hyperfamiliarity feelings. Behaviorally, signal detection methods revealed that the patient's discrimination sensitivity between familiar and unfamiliar faces was significantly lower than that of matched controls, and her response criterion for familiarity decisions was significantly more liberal. At the neural level, while morphometric analysis and single-photon emission CT (SPECT) showed the atrophy and hypofunctioning of the left temporal regions, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) revealed that hyperfamiliarity feelings were selectively associated to enhanced activity in the right medial and inferior temporal cortices. We therefore characterize the neurofunctional signature of hyperfamiliarity for unknown faces as related to the loss of coordinated activity between the complementary face processing functions of the left and right temporal lobes.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere0129970
Number of pages17
JournalPLOS ONE
Volume10
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 8 Jul 2015

Keywords

  • TEMPORAL-LOBE EPILEPSY
  • HUMAN NEURAL SYSTEM
  • DELUSIONAL MISIDENTIFICATIONS
  • STATISTICAL-ANALYSES
  • PERSONALLY FAMILIAR
  • RECOGNITION
  • RECOLLECTION
  • PERCEPTION
  • REPRESENTATIONS
  • PROSOPAGNOSIA

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