A person’s ability to recognize faces is
linked with the brain’s dopamine neurotransmitter system, according to a study
recently published by researchers from the University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas), in conjunction with colleagues in Sweden.
“There is an intimate relationship between
face recognition and the reward system,” UT Dallas Associate Professor of
Cognitive Neuroscience and Cognitive Psychology Dr. Bart Rypma said. “For
example, you can imagine that the more sensitive someone is to social rewards,
the better they feel during social interactions with familiar faces. People who
are better at recognizing faces are likely more socially outgoing than those
who have greater trouble differentiating one face from another.”
Rypma and fellow UT Dallas researcher Dr.
Nicholas Hubbard coauthored a paper on their findings, which was published in
The Journal of Neuroscience. They used functional magnetic resonance imaging
(fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to study the brain
activity of individuals, with more activity per unit of dopamine showing better
facial recognition.
“The findings suggest that the strength of
the neural response to the amount of dopamine transmitted could be key to
understanding why we remember some faces and forget others,” Hubbard said.
“Establishing this empirical link between fusiform activity and dopamine
binding, and linking these to a cognitive process that is highly relevant for
survival in a social world, was a most exciting find.”
More Stories
- Omnibus package needed to support front-line university research on COVID-19
- AACC president recognized with leadership award
- BERRY COLLEGE: Online Add/Drop for Cleared Returning Students Opens at 8am
- ANDREWS UNIVERSITY: Thoughtful Thursday to be Held January 14
- Ross, Showalter: Education and Employment promise can help future generations survive
- AMERICAN UNIVERSITY: 32nd Annual Ann Ferren Conference
- EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY: Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer appoints Nathan K. Ford and Dr. Jessie Kimbrough Marshall to the Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents
- EASTER MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY: Read President Smith's Dec. 18 update to campus, which includes information about advising over break and the announcement of two personal wellness days in March
- BERRY COLLEGE: Prayer & Share for Women
- ADTALEM GLOBAL EDUCATION INC.: Adtalem Global Education Named One of America's Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek