The brain computes dynamic facial movements for emotion categorization using a third pathway.

ABSTRACT: Emerging theories in cognitive neuroscience propose a third brain pathway dedicated to processing biological motion, alongside the established ventral and dorsal pathways. However, its role in computing dynamic social signals for behavior remains uncharted. Here, participants (N = 10) actively categorized dynamic facial expressions synthesized by a generative model and displayed on different face identities-as "happy," "surprise," "fear," "anger," "disgust," "sad"-while we recorded their MEG responses. Using representational interaction measures that link facial features with MEG activity and categorization behavior, we identified within each participant a functional social pathway extending from the occipital cortex to the superior temporal gyrus. This pathway selectively represents, comm

SUBMITTER: Yan Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12207432 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature