# Basic neural processing mechanisms of live human face viewing

> **NIH NIH K00** · YALE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $89,014

## Abstract

Project Summary
  Significance. The human brain has a dedicated neural system for processing other humans. However relatively
  little is known about the basic mechanisms of this processing. Prior research has found that live human face
  viewing results in more activity in the right temporoparietal junction (TPJ) than does viewing a face simulation
  like a robot face. This suggests that live faces have characteristics that transcend appearance, motion, co-
  presence, and embodiment which give them access to sociocognitive systems that face simulations cannot
  access. Research question. What are the neural mechanisms of this access and how do they relate to stimulus
 acquisition? Further, how might these mechanisms contribute to dysfunction in psychiatric illnesses like
  schizophrenia? Addressing these gaps in the literature requires skills in: (1) multimodal data acquisition; (2)
  advanced analytics; and (3) experimental design for clinical populations. To pursue these questions long-term
 by becoming an independent researcher, I propose a two-phase training plan. In Aim 1, I will supplement existing
 skills for multimodal experimental design, acquisition, and preprocessing with intermediate multimodal analytics,
 advanced programming, dataset management, and professionalization. Approach. I will do this with a study on
 neurotypical neural processing during live human face viewing with robot face viewing as control and will acquire
 simultaneous functional Near Infra-Red Spectroscopy (fNIRS), electroencephalography (EEG), eye-tracking,
 and pupillometry. I will then apply eye-behavior-guided time frequency decomposition of EGG data, cross-
 frequency phase-amplitude coupling, and fNIRS-constrained EEG source localization. Hypotheses. Visual
 sensing is an active component of the neural processing of live faces. If true, then we hypothesize that eye
 movements and pupil size during live face viewing will be greater due to increased attention and arousal and
 greater acquisition of meaningful information from a live face. These differences are hypothesized to correspond
 to increased power in gamma (30-100hz)—reflecting configural processing—and theta (4-8hz)—reflecting
 perceptual binding. These frequencies are hypothesized to be coupled to each other—reflecting information
 transfer from local to global processing—and to localize to regions identified with fNIRS contrasts of live face
 and robot face viewing. This will identify the temporal and spatial features of the social processing network.
 Preliminary Results. Participants show greater pupil size and differences in dwell time during live face viewing.
 Right-TPJ-localized theta band power is greater during live face than robot face viewing. Aim 2, I will complete
 post-doctoral training on experimental design for those with schizophrenia and on advanced computational
 analytics like factor analysis and predictive coding. I will do this through research on live face viewing paradigms,...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10794910
- **Project number:** 8K00MH139095-02
- **Recipient organization:** YALE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Megan Kelley
- **Activity code:** K00 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $89,014
- **Award type:** 8
- **Project period:** 2022-10-01 → 2028-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10794910

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10794910, Basic neural processing mechanisms of live human face viewing (8K00MH139095-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10794910. Licensed CC0.

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