Dynamic Suppression of Average Facial Structure Shapes Neural Tuning in Three Macaque Face Patches

The visual perception of identity in humans and other primates is thought to draw upon cortical areas specialized for the analysis of facial structure. A prominent theory of face recognition holds that the brain computes and stores average facial structure, which it then uses to efficiently determine individual identity, though the neural mechanisms underlying this process are controversial. Here, we demonstrate that the dynamic suppression of average facial structure plays a prominent role in the responses of neurons in three fMRI-defined face patches of the macaque. Using photorealistic face stimuli that systematically varied in identity level according to a psychophysically based face space, we found that single units in the AF, AM, and ML face patches exhibited robust tuning around average facial structure. This tuning emerged after the initial excitatory response to the face and was expressed as the selective suppression of sustained responses to low-identity faces. The coincidence of this suppression with increased spike timing synchrony across the population suggests a mechanism of active inhibition underlying this effect. Control experiments confirmed that the diminished responses to low-identity faces were not due to short-term adaptation processes. We propose that the brain’s neural suppression of average facial structure facilitates recognition by promoting the extraction of distinctive facial characteristics and suppressing redundant or irrelevant responses across the population. [Display omitted] •Neurons in face patches showed robust identity tuning around average facial structure•The tuning emerged as delayed suppression to low-identity faces•The coincidence of the suppression and spike synchrony suggests active inhibition•Control experiments confirmed that the tuning was not due to short-term adaptation Koyano et al. use morphed faces to examine neural tuning to facial identity in three macaque face patches. Neurons respond with a prominent tuning around average facial structure, expressed as a delayed suppression to low-identity faces. The findings suggest a mechanism by which the brain efficiently extracts individuals’ unique facial features.