Modulation Of Self-face Processing On Visual Spatial Attention

This study reported three experiments to explore the role of the salience of self-face in guiding visual attentionusing a Posner's spatial cueing paradigm. In Experiment 1, a self- or firend- face foveally presented as an endgenous cue oriented right or left, cueing the location of a target in the right or left visual field (cueing validity is 75%). The cueing validity was reduced to 50% in Experiment 2 (using static images) and 3 ( using dynamic images),. The results in three experiments showed consistently enhanced cueing effect in self-face than in friend-face condition, regardless of cueing validity.This reflects the modulation of the salience of self-face on visual attention. Experiment 4 employing dynamic faces and 50% cueing validity showed an increased negative activity at 280-520ms over right frontal and central regions in self-face than in friend-face conditions, while greater negativity at 150-280ms over central and parietal areas for self- and friend-face than for unfamiliar face conditions. These results suggest that the modulation of salience of self-face on attention may be due to enhanced self-awareness, occurring after structural encoding stage of face.