Lesion-behaviour mapping reveals multifactorial neurocognitive processes in recognition memory for unfamiliar faces. (10th December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ben-Zvi Feldman, Shir; Soroker, Nachum; Levy, Daniel A.
• Is Part Of: Neuropsychologia. Volume 163(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-12-10
• Subjects: Face recognition -- Episodic memory -- Stroke -- Lesion -- Wechsler memory scale; Neuropsychology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Neuropsychologie -- Périodiques; Neuropsychology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2021.108078
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0028-3932

Abstract

Abstract: Face recognition abilities, which play a critical role in social interactions, involve face processing and identifying familiar faces, but also remembering one-off encounters with previously unfamiliar faces. Previous functional imaging and lesion studies have found evidence for temporal, frontal, and parietal contributions to episodic recognition memory for previously unfamiliar faces. However, the functional contributions of these regions remain unclear. We, therefore, conducted a systematic group analysis of this memory function using lesion-behavior mapping. 95 first-event stroke patients (53 with right- and 42 with left-hemisphere damage) in the sub-acute phase performed the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS-III) face recognition memory subtest. We analyzed their performance relative to 75 healthy controls, using signal detection measures. To identify brain lesions specifically implicated in face recognition deficits, we used voxel-based lesion-behavior mapping (VLBM; an analysis comparing the performance of participants with and without damage affecting a given voxel). Behavioral analysis disclosed a pronounced impairment in the performance of patients with right hemisphere damage. Frontal damage was associated with an increased amount of false alarms (i.e., failed rejection of new face items) and overly liberal criterion setting, without affecting the recognition of studied faces. In contrast, parietal damage was associated with impaired recognition of studied faces, which was more pronounced in immediate than in delayed retrieval. These findings suggest the existence of multifactorial neurocognitive processes in recognition memory for unfamiliar faces. Highlights: Recognition memory for unfamiliar but recently seen faces is a key cognitive skill. Voxel-based lesion symptom mapping in stroke patients identified relevant areas. Frontal lobe damage associated with increased false endorsement of unseen faces. Parietal lobe damage associated with decreased endorsement of seen faces. Dissociable neurocognitive processes in recognition memory for unfamiliar faces.