Skip to main content
Top
Published in:

01-02-2025 | Electroencephalography | Review

Microstate Analyses to Study face Processing in Healthy Individuals and Psychiatric Disorders: A Review of ERP Findings

Authors: Cristina Berchio, Samika Kumar, Maddalena Fabbri Destro

Published in: Brain Topography | Issue 1/2025

Login to get access

Abstract

Microstates represent brief periods of quasi-stable electroencephalography (EEG) scalp topography, offering insights into dynamic fluctuations in event-related potential (ERP) topographies. Despite this, there is a lack of a comprehensive systematic overview of microstate findings concerning cognitive face processing. This review aims to summarize ERP findings on face processing using microstate analyses and assess their effectiveness in characterizing face-related neural representations. A literature search was conducted for microstate ERP studies involving healthy individuals and psychiatric populations, utilizing PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, PsychInfo, and Scopus databases. Twenty-two studies were identified, primarily focusing on healthy individuals (n = 16), with a smaller subset examining psychiatric populations (n = 6). The evidence reviewed in this study suggests that various microstates are consistently associated with distinct ERP stages involved in face processing, encompassing the processing of basic visual facial features to more complex functions such as analytical processing, facial recognition, and semantic representations. Furthermore, these studies shed light on atypical attentional neural mechanisms in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), facial recognition deficits among emotional dysregulation disorders, and encoding and semantic dysfunctions in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In conclusion, this review underscores the practical utility of ERP microstate analyses in investigating face processing. Methodologies have evolved towards greater automation and data-driven approaches over time. Future research should aim to forecast clinical outcomes and conduct validation studies to directly demonstrate the efficacy of such analyses in inverse space.
Literature
go back to reference Kmet LM, Cook LS, Lee RC (2004) Standard quality assessment criteria for evaluating primary research papers from a variety of fields. Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR), Edmonton Kmet LM, Cook LS, Lee RC (2004) Standard quality assessment criteria for evaluating primary research papers from a variety of fields. Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR), Edmonton
go back to reference Koenig, Kottlow M, Stein M, Melie-García L (2011) Ragu: a free tool for the analysis of EEG and MEG event-related scalp field data using global randomization statistics. Computational intelligence and neuroscience, 2011 Koenig, Kottlow M, Stein M, Melie-García L (2011) Ragu: a free tool for the analysis of EEG and MEG event-related scalp field data using global randomization statistics. Computational intelligence and neuroscience, 2011
go back to reference Monteiro R, Simões M, Andrade J, Castelo Branco M (2017) Processing of facial expressions in autism: a systematic review of EEG/ERP evidence. Rev J Autism Dev Disorders 4(4):255–276CrossRef Monteiro R, Simões M, Andrade J, Castelo Branco M (2017) Processing of facial expressions in autism: a systematic review of EEG/ERP evidence. Rev J Autism Dev Disorders 4(4):255–276CrossRef
go back to reference Murray MM, Brunet D, Michel CM (2008) Topographic ERP analyses: a step-by-step tutorial review. Brain Topogr 20(4):249–264CrossRefPubMed Murray MM, Brunet D, Michel CM (2008) Topographic ERP analyses: a step-by-step tutorial review. Brain Topogr 20(4):249–264CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Olivares EI, Iglesias J, Saavedra C, Trujillo-Barreto NJ, Valdés-Sosa M (2015) Brain signals of face processing as revealed by event-related potentials. Behavioural neurology, 2015 Olivares EI, Iglesias J, Saavedra C, Trujillo-Barreto NJ, Valdés-Sosa M (2015) Brain signals of face processing as revealed by event-related potentials. Behavioural neurology, 2015
go back to reference Pascual-Marqui RD (2002) Standardized low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA): technical details. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol, 24 Suppl D, 5–12 Pascual-Marqui RD (2002) Standardized low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA): technical details. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol, 24 Suppl D, 5–12
go back to reference Pascual-Marqui RD (2007) Discrete, 3D distributed, linear imaging methods of electric neuronal activity. Part 1: exact, zero error localization. arXiv preprint arXiv:0710.3341 Pascual-Marqui RD (2007) Discrete, 3D distributed, linear imaging methods of electric neuronal activity. Part 1: exact, zero error localization. arXiv preprint arXiv:0710.3341
go back to reference Pascual-Marqui RD, Esslen M, Kochi K, Lehmann D (2002) Functional imaging with low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (LORETA): a review. Methods Find Experimental Clin Pharmacol 24(Suppl C):91–95 Pascual-Marqui RD, Esslen M, Kochi K, Lehmann D (2002) Functional imaging with low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (LORETA): a review. Methods Find Experimental Clin Pharmacol 24(Suppl C):91–95
go back to reference Poulsen AT, Pedroni A, Langer N, Hansen LK (2018) Microstate EEGlab toolbox: An introductory guide. bioRxiv, 289850 Poulsen AT, Pedroni A, Langer N, Hansen LK (2018) Microstate EEGlab toolbox: An introductory guide. bioRxiv, 289850
Metadata
Title
Microstate Analyses to Study face Processing in Healthy Individuals and Psychiatric Disorders: A Review of ERP Findings
Authors
Cristina Berchio
Samika Kumar
Maddalena Fabbri Destro
Publication date
01-02-2025
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Brain Topography / Issue 1/2025
Print ISSN: 0896-0267
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6792
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10548-024-01083-x

Keynote series | Spotlight on menopause

Menopause can have a significant impact on the body, with effects ranging beyond the endocrine and reproductive systems. Learn about the systemic effects of menopause, so you can help patients in your clinics through the transition.   

Prof. Martha Hickey
Dr. Claudia Barth
Dr. Samar El Khoudary
Developed by: Springer Medicine
Watch now

Advances in Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's research and care is changing rapidly. Keep up with the latest developments from key international conferences, together with expert insights on how to integrate these advances into practice.

This content is intended for healthcare professionals outside of the UK.

Supported by:
  • Lilly
Developed by: Springer Healthcare IME
Learn more