Face research at MACCS
We want to know how people see the world!
In particular, we are interested in how people perceive and recognize faces and facial expressions. To help us understand this we have been studying people with prosopagnosia and epilepsy. We have also just begun a research project comparing the responses children, adolescents and adults make to faces.
Responses to faces by children, adolescents and adults
We are currently inviting children ages 6-7 years to participate in the Macquarie Centre for Cognitive Science (MACCS) "Face Perception Study", which is being conducted at Macquarie University from December 2007 until February 2008.
Unfortunately, we cannot assess people who have developmental or visual disorders, epilepsy or who have had a head injury resulting in loss of consciousness for more than a few minutes.
What is the study about?
This study is investigating whether there are differences in how children, adolescents and adults perceive and respond to faces.
What will the study involve?
Participants will be asked to make judgements about faces (e.g., what gender is the person, what expression are they displaying) that are presented on a computer screen. While completing the tasks, the electrical activity that occurs in the brain in response to the pictures will be measured. This electrical activity is measured from the scalp, via small sensors embedded in a cap that will be placed on the head. In addition, small sensors will be placed on the side of the face to measure facial movements that spontaneously occur when viewing faces. This is a completely safe and non-invasive procedure, and no electrical stimulation will be given through the sensors.
Children will also complete tests assessing verbal ability and parents/guardians will be asked to complete a number of questionnaires.
Participants are given $30. Parents of children are reimbursed for their petrol expenses and will be provided with a car-parking voucher. The session, which will take a maximum of three hours, including breaks and refreshments, takes place at Macquarie University.
If you are interested in participating, or would just like to find out more, please contact Dr. Romina Palermo.
Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
A seizure may occur when the normal pattern of electrical activity in the brain is disrupted. Seizures can begin from different parts of the brain. We have been studying people whose seizures begin in one of the temporal lobes. The temporal lobes are involved in vision, hearing, memory and emotion. Temporal lobe seizures may begin with an "aura", such as feelings of fear or joy; the recall of certain music or smells; funny feelings in the stomach or dèjà vu.
Used by permission. TBI Resource Guide. www.neuroskills.com.
We have been studying whether people with temporal lobe epilepsy, especially those who experience a feeling of fear immediately before or during their seizures, rate visual images similarly to other people.
If you have temporal lobe epilepsy, and feel a sudden, intense emotion just before or during your seizures and you would like to participate in research please contact Dr Romina Palermo.
For more information on epilepsy see: