Fusiform gyrus

From Psy3241


Location

The fusiform gyrus, or occipitotemporal gyrus, is the spindle-shaped brain formation that can be found on the ventromedial surface of the temporal and occipital lobes. In the following picture, the fusiform gyrus is colored pink.

[Image collateral_mid-saggital_view.jpg]

Believed uses

The fusiform gyrus is believed to play a major role in color integration, visuo-spatial processing, facial recognition and corresponding visual imagery. Portions of the fusiform gyrus have also been linked to the recognition and understanding of written words.

Having smaller amounts of gray matter in the fusiform gyrus has been linked to schizophrenia. Bilateral fusiform gyrus reduction was observed in a study done with first-episode schizophrenic patients. These patients were also tested on facial recognition and memory. Given their poor performance on the recognition tasks, one can infer that fusiform gyrus is indeed involved in the structural encoding and learning of faces seeing as the schizophrenics' fusiform gyrus abnormalities seemed to inhibit their ability to recognize faces.

References

Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry

HighBeam Encyclopedia

HighBeam Encyclopedia

Fusiform Gyrus and Schizophrenia

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