<p>Yes. The idea that the fusiform face area (FFA) is domain-selective for faces is the dominant hypothesis, but a competing hypothesis is that the FFA is recruited for fine discrimination in visual stimuli of <em>any</em> type in which we are experts.</p>

<p>In a famous study, Gauthier et al. (1999) taught participants to categorize fictitious Greebles (see image below). Subjects were brought in for several sessions and, as their accuracy increased, activation in the FFA increased as well. The authors concluded that "expertise seems to be
one factor that leads to specialization in the face area." </p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/4vTIl.gif" alt="enter image description here"></p>

<p>In another study, Gauthier et al. (2000) tested bird and car experts on identifying birds, cars, faces, and objects. They found that bird experts elicited more FFA activation for birds compared to cars, while car experts showed the opposite pattern (see below, right).</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/iqW8S.png" alt="enter image description here">
<img src="https://i.sstatic.net/wE3ER.png" alt="enter image description here"></p>

<h1>References</h1>

<p>Gauthier, I., Tarr, M. J., Anderson, A. W., Skudlarski, P., &amp; Gore, J. C. (1999). Activation of the middle fusiform'face area'increases with expertise in recognizing novel objects. Nature neuroscience, 2(6), 568-573. <a href="http://www.biac.duke.edu/education/courses/spring03/cogdev/readings/I.%20Gauthier%20et%20al%20(1999).pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">PDF</a></p>

<p>Gauthier, I., Skudlarski, P., Gore, J. C., &amp; Anderson, A. W. (2000). Expertise for cars and birds recruits brain areas involved in face recognition. Nature neuroscience, 3(2), 191-197. <a href="http://systems.neurosci.info/FMRI/gauthier00.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">PDF</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-18T16:08:39.010Z
Gauthier et al. was exactly what I was looking for. That was actually the study that I read about in a book.Thanks for your excellent answer Jeff.
Jaime Ivan Cervantes
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-18T07:20:14.880Z
2013-04-18T07:20:14.880Z
Jeff
<p><strong>Is there any evidence (papers, studies, etc) that the Fusiform Face Area is used for any other type of recognition besides facial recognition?</strong> I remember hearing or reading a long time ago that experts activated the FFA when doing within class classification in their areas of expertise, but I don't know where to find this evidence.</p>

<neuroscience><perception><neuroanatomy>
Fusiform Face Area (FFA) for within class recognition?
Jaime Ivan Cervantes
# Fusiform Face Area (FFA) for within class recognition?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-04-18)

**Is there any evidence (papers, studies, etc) that the Fusiform Face Area is used for any other type of recognition besides facial recognition?** I remember hearing or reading a long time ago that experts activated the FFA when doing within class classification in their areas of expertise, but I don't know where to find this evidence.

**Tags:** neuroscience, perception, neuroanatomy


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-04-18. Score: 9 | Accepted answer

Yes. The idea that the fusiform face area (FFA) is domain-selective for faces is the dominant hypothesis, but a competing hypothesis is that the FFA is recruited for fine discrimination in visual stimuli of *any* type in which we are experts.

In a famous study, Gauthier et al. (1999) taught participants to categorize fictitious Greebles (see image below). Subjects were brought in for several sessions and, as their accuracy increased, activation in the FFA increased as well. The authors concluded that "expertise seems to be
one factor that leads to specialization in the face area."

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/4vTIl.gif)

In another study, Gauthier et al. (2000) tested bird and car experts on identifying birds, cars, faces, and objects. They found that bird experts elicited more FFA activation for birds compared to cars, while car experts showed the opposite pattern (see below, right).

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/iqW8S.png)
![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/wE3ER.png)

# References

Gauthier, I., Tarr, M. J., Anderson, A. W., Skudlarski, P., & Gore, J. C. (1999). Activation of the middle fusiform'face area'increases with expertise in recognizing novel objects. Nature neuroscience, 2(6), 568-573. [PDF](http://www.biac.duke.edu/education/courses/spring03/cogdev/readings/I.%20Gauthier%20et%20al%20(1999).pdf)

Gauthier, I., Skudlarski, P., Gore, J. C., & Anderson, A. W. (2000). Expertise for cars and birds recruits brain areas involved in face recognition. Nature neuroscience, 3(2), 191-197. [PDF](http://systems.neurosci.info/FMRI/gauthier00.pdf)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Gauthier et al. was exactly what I was looking for. That was actually the study that I read about in a book.Thanks for your excellent answer username_1.  

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