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In this study, we explored the neural correlates of perceptual awareness during a masked face detection task. To assess awareness more precisely than in previous studies, participants employed a 4-point scale to rate subjective visibility. An event-related fMRI and a high-density ERP study were carried out. Imaging data showed that conscious face detection was linked to activation of fusiform and occipital face areas. Frontal and parietal regions, including the pre-SMA, inferior frontal sulcus, anterior insula/frontal operculum, and intraparietal sulcus, also responded strongly when faces were consciously perceived. In contrast, no brain area showed face-selective activity when participants reported no impression of a face. ERP results showed that conscious face detection was associated with enhanced N170 and also with the presence of a second negativity around 300 msec and a slow positivity around 415 msec. Again, face-related activity was absent when faces were not consciously perceived. We suggest that, under conditions of backward masking, ventral stream and fronto-parietal regions show similar, strong links of face-related activity to conscious perception and stress the importance of a detailed assessment of awareness to examine activity related to unseen stimulus events.

Original publication

DOI

10.1162/jocn_a_00137

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Cogn Neurosci

Publication Date

02/2012

Volume

24

Pages

396 - 415

Keywords

Adult, Attention, Awareness, Brain Mapping, Cerebral Cortex, Electroencephalography, Evoked Potentials, Visual, Face, Female, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Middle Aged, Perceptual Masking, Visual Perception