Focal electrical intracerebral stimulation of a face-sensitive area causes transient prosopagnosia

Face perception is subtended by a large set of areas in the human ventral occipito-temporal cortex. However, the role of these areas and their importance for face recognition remain largely unclear. Here we report a case of transient selective impairment in face recognition (prosopagnosia) induced by focal electrical intracerebral stimulation of the right inferior occipital gyrus. This area presents with typical face-sensitivity as evidenced by functional neuroimaging right occipital face area (OFA). A face-sensitive intracerebral N170 was also recorded in this area, supporting its contribution as a source of the well-known N170 component typically recorded on the scalp. Altogether, these observations indicate that face recognition can be selectively impaired by local disruption of a single face-sensitive area of the network subtending this function, the right OFA.

► Transient prosopagnosia from human brain intracerebral stimulation is reported. ► The recognition impairment is specific to faces. ► The area stimulated is functionally defined as the right ‘occipital face area’. ► A face-sensitive N170 potential is recorded directly in this area.