Journal Article

Patterns of individual differences in fiber tract integrity of the face processing brain network support neurofunctional models

Sommer, Werner, Liu, Xinyang, Zhou, Changsong, Hildebrandt, Andrea, Meyer, Kristina

2020

Overview

Face cognition, the ability to perceive faces and interpret facial information, is a crucial skill in human social interactions. At the neurobiological level, several functionally specialized brain regions constitute a network of face processing. However, the evidence whether functional specialization within the face network is also reflected in the white matter structural connectivity patterns is yet limited. Based on imaging data from 1051 young healthy adult women and men, we investigated individual differences in the integrity of fibre tracts connecting face-processing regions relative to brain-general tract integrity. We analyzed individual tract-averaged fractional anisotropy (FA) values with structural equation modeling (SEM). Our results show that beyond the variance explained by a general factor indicating the quality of global tracts, the specificity of white matter integrity within the face network can be accounted for by additional factors. These factors correspond to the core and extended networks suggested in classic neuro-functional models of face processing. The right-hemisphere dominance, as commonly found in face cognition studies, is also reflected in this factorial structure. Overall, our results extend the structural brain substrate of the classic functional face processing system to the network of fibre tracts connecting these brain areas, and shed light on a structure-function correspondence from the perspective of individual differences. •White matter integrity in the face processing network is variable across individuals.•Face network variability is specific relative to fibre integrity of global brain tracts.•Face network links are separable into independent latent variables.•These links correspond to core and extended areas of neurofunctional face models.•Links to the extended system are more differentiated in the right hemisphere.

• Publisher: Elsevier Inc,Elsevier Limited,Elsevier
• Subject: Anisotropy / Brain research / Cognition / Cognition & reasoning / Face / Face processing network / Hemispheric laterality / Individual differences / Interdisciplinary aspects / Memory / Neural networks / Neuroimaging / Pattern recognition / Social interactions / Specialization / Structural equation modeling / Structural-functional correspondence / Structure-function relationships / Substantia alba / White matter integrity / Young adults