Specialia
126
EXPERIENTIA 31/1
Tableau II. Traitement
T6moins D6capit6s D6capit6s + cort~sol T6moins ~
Carbamyl-phosphate synth6tase
Ornitbine transcarbamylase
[xMIh/g foie
~xMImgprot6ines
~LMIh/gfoie
~zMlmg prot@ines
51,0 • 10,0 (10) ~ 22,8 • 5,0 (10) b 91,9 ~ 19,5 (7) ~ 68,9 2~ 13,4 (7)
0,503 4- 0,071 (10) u 0,226 4- 0,021 (10) u 1,160 == 0,245 (7) b 0,877 4- 0,166 (7)
2080 -t- 385 (13)~ 1474 4- 218 (13) ~ 2230 4- 612 (7) ~ 2934 4- 733 (7)
20,6 + 3,7 (13) 14,5 4- 2,1 (13) b 28,1 4- 7,7 (7) b 37,3 4- 9,4 (7)
Foetus t6moins de la in6me port6e. Moyennes ~- intervalle de confiance au niveau de probabilitY: p = 0.95. b Diff6renee significative pour p 0,05. () Nombre de mesures.
et o/1 le t a u x de c o r t i c o s t g r o n e c i r c u l a n t e est le pIus 61ev61,, 15. Nos r6sultats m o n t r e n t en effet que l ' a u g m e n t a t i o n d ' a c t i v i t 6 de ces e n z y m e s qui s u r v i e n t ~ p a r t i r de 19,5 jours d @ e n d de la pr6sence des corticost6roides, ceci est en accord avec le fair bien c o n n u que ces h o r m o n e s c o n t r 6 I e n t la m a t u r a t i o n f o n c t i o n n e l l e du foie foetal16. Le r61e i m p o r t a n t des corUcost6roides d a n s la r6gulation de l ' a c t i v i t 6 des e n z y m e s impliqu6es d a n s la s y n t h S s e de l'ur6e a d6jS~ 6t6 mis en 6vidence, apr~s la n a i s s a n c e et chez le r a t adulte12,1'-21. Cette a c t i v i t 6 est d i m i n u 6 e apr~s s u r r 6 n a l e c t o m i e ou a u g m e n t e apr~s l ' a d m i n i s t r a t i o n de cortisol ou de t r i a m c i n o l o n e . L ' e f f e t de l ' a p p o r t s u p p l 6 m e n t a i r e de corticost6roides exog~nes a aussi ~t6 6tudi6 chez le foetus s~. A u c u n effet n ' e s t observ6 e n t r e 19,5 jours et la naissance p r o b a b l e m e n t p a r c e que le t a u x de c o r t i c o s t 6 r o n e endog~ne est d6j~ r e l a t i v e m e n t i m p o r t a n t au cours de
14 p. G. HOLT and I. T. OLIVER,13iochem. J. 108, 339 (1968). 15 j. p. DuPouY, soumis. 16 R. A. FREEDLANDand C. H. SODIKOFF,Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. Med. 109, 394 (1962). 1~ p. Mc LEAN and M. W. GIJRNEY, Biochem. J. 87, 96 (1963). 16 R. T. SCHIUKE,J. biol. Chem, 238, 1012 (1963). 19 R. A. FREEDLAND, Soe. Exp. Biol. Med. 116, 692 (1964). 20H. ILLNEROVA,Physiologia bohemoslov. 15, 23 (1966), =I O. GREENGARD, M. I~. SAHIB and W. E. KNox, Arch. 13ioehem. Biophys. 137, 477 (1970). =2 A. L. SCHWARTZ,Bioehem. J. 126, 89 (1972). ~a Ce travail a dr6 r~alis6 avee l'aide de la D616gation G6n6rale 5 la Recherche Scientifique et Technique (contrat No. 73 71148).
c e t t e p6riode 14,1~. E n fait, le foie foetal s e m b l e c a p a b l e de r 6 p o n d r e g c e s t a d e du d 6 v e l o p p e m e n t . SCHWARTZ2~ a en effet m o n t r 6 que les glucocorticost6ro~des p e u v e n t a u g m e n t e r l ' a c t i v i t 6 du s y s t ~ m e arginine s y n t h 6 t a s e darts le foie foetal mis en culture. Nos r 6 s u l t a t s m o n t r e n t d ' a i l l e u r s que l ' a p p o r t de cortisol a u x foetus d~s l'gge de 18,5 jours p e r m e t d ' a u g m e n t e r l ' a c t i v i t 6 de la c a r b a m y l p h o s p h a t e s y n t h 6 t a s e e t de l ' o r n i t h i n e t r a n s c a r b a m y l a s e g u n n i v e a u plus 61ev6 que la n o r m a l e . Des 6tudes s o n t a c t u e l l e m e n t en cours p o u r pr4ciser si l ' a d m i n i s t r a t i o n de glucocorticost6roides au foetus b i e n a v a n t que les surr6nales soient stimul6es p e u t accrottre p r 6 m a t u r 6 m e n t l'activit6 enzymatique.
Summary. Two e n z y m e s of t h e urea-cycle ( c a r b a m y i phosphate synthetase and ornithine transcarbamylase) h a v e b e e n s t u d i e d in t h e liver of f o e t u s e s a n d n e w b o r n r a t s a n d of foetuses lacking of corticosteroids. I n c o n t r o l foetus, s i m u l t a n e o u s a n d r e g u l a r increase of t h e b o t h e n z y m e a c t i v i t y was o b s e r v e d b e t w e e n 17.5 d a y s of p r e g n a n c y a n d b i r t h . The lack of c o r t i c o s t e r o i d f r o m 18.5 d a y s of p r e g n a n c y caused a m a r k e d d i m i n u t i o n of t h e e n z y m e a c t i v i t y . This a c t i v i t y is e n h a n c e d a f t e r adm i n i s t r a t i o n of cortisol (hydrocortisone) t o t h e s e 18.5d a y - o l d foetuses lacking of corticosteroids. C. GAUTIER, A. HUSSON et R. VAILLANT23
Universitd de Rouen, Laboratoire d'Endocrinologie, U.E.R. des Sciences et Techniques, F-76730 Mont-Saint-Aignan (France), 24 J u i n 7974.
COGITATIONES
Developmental Phases in Visual Recognition of the H u m a n Face Pattern, Exemplified by the 'Smiling Response' This s t u d y is a b o u t d e v e l o p m e n t a l p h a s e s of visual r e c o g n i t i o n of t h e c o n f i g u r a t i o n s of t h e h u m a n face, w h i c h f u n c t i o n as 'releasers '1 for i n f a n t s ' ' s m i l i n g r e s p o n s e ' (SR). This r e s p o n s e is associated w i t h a m e c h a n i s m analogous t o t h a t of t h e ' i n n a t e releasing m e c h a n i s m ' (IRM) S. Thus, t h e s t u d y of S R can offer clues a b o u t a v e r y early stage in t h e processing of visual stimuli. The i n f a n t s ' S R t o t h e h u m a n face has so far b e e n f o u n d t o be a r e a c t i o n t o t h e 'releaser '1 s t i m u l u s consisting of t h e general c o n f i g u r a t i o n of t h e ' f o r e h e a d - e y e s nose sector' 1. This area, w h e n p r e s e n t e d as a s t i m u h s for
S R was either left unaltered or was simplified by presenting the nose as small or non-existent and the eye region by two dot-like shapes. O n e study had replaced the eyes by movable glass marbles behind a cut-out square card board frame s. This experimental set-up demonstrated that it was the 'invariable Gestalt con1 R. A. SPITZ, The First Year o] Li]e (Int. University Press, New York 1965). 2 N. TINBERGEN and D. J. t{UENEN, Z. Tierpsychol. 2, 37 (1939). 3 E. t(AILA, Annls. Univ. fenn. abo, Serie 13 17, 5 (1932).
15.1. 1975
Specialia
f i g u r a t i o n of t h e eye region' ~ w h i c h elicited SR. A n o t h e r s t u d y used p h o t o g r a p h s of t h e e s s e n t i a l l y u n a l t e r e d c o n f i g u r a t i o n of t h e face 4. T h e r e was s h o w n a n ager e l a t e d d i f f e r e n t ' l a t e n c y ' in S R t o t h e face a n d t o its p h o t o g r a p h . T h e l a t t e r h a d 'a m o r e s t r i k i n g c o n t r a s t a g a i n s t t h e b a c k g r o u n d of t h e face. S h a d o w s a c c e n t u a t e d t h e v e r t i c a l lille of t h e nose a n d t h e h o r i z o n t a l line of t h e eyes' 4. The p r e s e n t s t u d y offers t h e h y p o t h e s i s t h a t t h e i n f a n t smiles m o r e r e a d i l y t o simple p a t t e r n s of t h e face w h i c h are specifically p a t t e r n e d a f t e r m a n ' s v e r y early, e.g. ' n e o l i t h i c ' w a y s of r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e h u m a n face in art. I n these, t h e v e r t i c a l m i d l i n e sector of t h e face is specifically altered, in a w a y u n i q u e in art, t o f o r m a f o r e h e a d - n o s e c o n t i n u u m while o b l i t e r a t i n g t h e b r i d g e of t h e nose (Figure, N G r a n d NG1) a n d n e g l e c t i n g or omitting the mouth. T h e ' n e o l i t h i c ' face c o n f i g u r a t i o n s were f o u n d worldw i d e in a r t up t o a b o u t 4000 y e a r s ago as o b s e r v e d in a n c i e n t a r t i f a c t s 5. H o w e v e r , in t h e r e m o t e enclave area of t h e U p p e r S e p i k R i v e r of N e w Guinea t h e a u t h o r on a r e c e n t v i s i t t h e r e collected a r t i f a c t s a n d d r a w i n g s still s h o w i n g s u c h ' n e o l i t h i c ' face c o n f i g u r a t i o n s . S u c h a select i o n of s t i m u l u s p a t t e r n s for t h e S R is b a s e d on t h e empirically s u p p o r t e d v i e w t h a t t h e r e exists a n ' e v o l u t i o n ary h i e r a r c h y of levels of l e a r n i n g a n d of p e r c e p t i o n a n d t h i n k i n g ' 6, a n d t h a t early levels can coexist w i t h l a t e r ones in a d u l t s or can b e / e a c t i v a t e d . Method. I n a cross s e c t i o n m e t h o d , 101 r a n d o m l y o b t a i n e d i n f a n t s ( b o t h b o y s a n d girls) f r o m 7 to 25 weeks of age were t e s t e d . T h e Ss were all t h e i n f a n t s of t h i s age g r o u p available a t 13 i n s t i t u t i o n s in 7 cities of W e s t G e r m a n y . T h e s e i n s t i t u t i o n s were m o s t l y for i n f a n t s of u n w e d t e e n a g e m o t h e r s of a low socio-economic level. The i n f a n t s were of v a r i o u s e t h n i c groups, m o s t l y of G e r m a n m o t h e r s a n d of f a t h e r s m a n y of w h o m were
Stimuli. NGr: 'neolithic' type mask with sinusoidal outlines of the mid-forehead-nose continuum, the bridge of the nose being as wide as the tip of the nose. The mouth is small and deep-set. NGh 'neolithic' type mask with long vertical midline, beginning above the eye level. The mouth is neglected, nm: 'natural', unaltered mask. mm: mask with mouth outlined. (E's natural face, female, brown hair, without make-up was also presented as a stimulus).
127
g u e s t - w o r k e r s f r o m v a r i o u s E u r o p e a n countries. No neurological or o t h e r p a t h o l o g y was r e p o r t e d in t h e Ss. The u p p e r e n d of t h e age r a n g e p r e s e n t e d itself as a necessity, since b y t h i s age t h e r e were few of t h e ins t i t u t i o n a l i z e d i n f a n t s n o t y e t a d o p t e d or o t h e r w i s e placed. M o r e o v e r t h o s e i n f a n t s n o t y e t p l a c e d b y 25 weeks of age m i g h t no longer h a v e r e p r e s e n t e d a r a n d o m s a m p l e b u t a n e g a t i v e selection for v a r i o u s reasons. H a d t h e t e s t results h o w e v e r r e v e a l e d a h i g h degree of p r e f e r e n c e for ' n e o l i t h i c ' face c o n f i g u r a t i o n s a r o u n d 25 weeks of age, t h e n o t h e r sources for r e c r u t i n g Ss 25 t o a b o u t 28 weeks of age would h a v e h a d to be t a p p e d , t h o u g h n o t older ones, since b y 7 or 8 m o n t h s of life it is t h e i n d i v i d u a l ' s facial f e a t u r e s w h i c h elicit SR. All t e s t i n g was done indoors b y d a y l i g h t while t h e Ss were lying on t h e i r b a c k in t h e i r crib a f t e r feeding. Clinical o b s e r v a t i o n s suggest t h a t t h e Ss were on t h e arousal level called 'alert a c t i v i t y ' 7. Only p u r e l y visual s t i m u l i were p r e s e n t e d . These were 5 face c o n f i g u r a t i o n s (Figure): 4 full-face male masks, w h i c h were specifically a l t e r e d a n d p u t on E ' s h e a d . E ' s n a t u r a l face was used as a 5th stimulus. All s t i m u l i were p r e s e n t e d en face w i t h 2 p e r sec n o d d i n g m o t i o n s r a n g i n g ca. 20 to 30 c m f r o m t h e Ss' faces. To a v o i d an order effect, 2 sequences of s t i m u l i were p r e s e n t e d , a l t e r n a t i n g b e t w e e n t h e n a t u r a l face or n a t u r a l m a s k a n d m a s k s w i t h various a c c e n t u a t i o n s of features. Thus, one S was given s e q u e n c e A, t h e n e x t S s e q u e n c e B. S e q u e n c e A was: 1. n a t u r a l face, 2. NGr, 3. n m , 4. NGI, 5. ram. S e q u e n c e B was : 1. NGr, 2. n a t u r a l face, 3. NG1, 4. rim, 5. m m . These t w o sequences a l t e r n a t e b e t w e e n t h e n a t u r a l face or t h e m a s k r e s e m b l i n g it on one h a n d a n d on t h e o t h e r h a n d t h e ' n e o l i t h i c ' t y p e masks, w h i c h in t u r n were p r e s e n t e d in a l t e r n a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e r o u n d i s h (NGr) a n d t h e longish (NG1) t y p e s , The 5th stimulus, t h e m a s k w i t h t h e a c c e n t u a t e d m o u t h (mm), h a v i n g no p a r t n e r , was p r e s e n t e d a t t h e e n d of e a c h sequence. T h u s m a s k ' r a m ' followed once a ' n e o l i t h i c ' t y p e m a s k a n d t h e n e x t t i m e a ' n o r m a l ' t y p e of face stimulus. A visual p r e f e r e n c e m e t h o d was used t o m e a s u r e t h e f a s t e s t r e a c t i o n t i m e of Ss following p r e s e n t a t i o n of t h e stimuli. I n o r d e r t o rule o u t c h a n c e results, t h e s t i m u l u s s e q u e n c e was p r e s e n t e d t w i c e t o each S. If a n y difference occurred, t h e s a m e s e q u e n c e was p r e s e n t e d a t h i r d t i m e to clarify t h e preference. A t h i r d p r e s e n t a t i o n was only n e c e s s a r y in v e r y few cases. M e a s u r i n g b y s t o p - w a t c h was b e g u n as soon as t h e S h a d o r i e n t e d his h e a d a n d eyes t o w a r d t h e s t i m u l u s a n d h a d f i x a t e d it. The p r e s e n t a t i o n v a r i e d f r o m 1 sec to 3 min, d e p e n d i n g u p o n t h e o n s e t of t h e i n f a n t ' s full, o p e n m o u t h SR. A f t e r 3 min, t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n of t h e p a r t i c u l a r s t i m u l u s was d i s c o n t i n u e d . I f t h e r e was n e v e r a n y smiling w i t h i n 3 rain, t h e s e Ss were e l i m i n a t e d f r o m t h e sample. Only t h e f a s t e s t full, w i d e o p e n m o u t h S R was c o u n t e d in an all or n o n e m e a s u r e m e n t . To a v o i d h a b i t u a t i o n a n d e x p e r i m e n t - i n d u c e d h e i g h t e n e d arousal, a n i n t e r t r i a l i n t e r v a l of ca. 2 rain was used. If Ss b e c a m e d e s i n t e r e s t e d , t e s t i n g was h a l t e d a n d r e s u m e d w h e n S was again in a n a l e r t state.
4 p. R. POL&K, R. N. EMDE a n d R. A. SPITZ, J. n e r v . m e n t . Dis.
139,
407 (1964), 5 C. A. SCHLITZ, Oceanic Art (Harry N. Abrams, New York 1969). Ca. RAZRAN,in ScientiJic Psychology (Eds. B. 13. WOLMAN and E. NAGEL; Basic Books, New York 1965), p. 207-253. P. H. WOLFF,in Determi~cants of Inlant Behaviour (Ed. ]3. M. Foss ; Methuen, London 1963), vol. 2, p. 113.
128
Speeialia
Results are s u m m a r i z e d in t h e Table. T h e h y p o t h e s i s was c o n f i r m e d o n l y in t h e y o u n g age g r o u p s (7 t o 18 weeks): T h e r e was a h i g h l y s i g n i f i c a n t p r e f e r e n t i a l r e a c t i o n to t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n of facial c o n f i g u r a t i o n s , r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e ' n e o l i t h i c ' p a t t e r n s (NGr a n d NG1). B y c o n t r a s t , t h e r e a c t i o n of t h e oldest age g r o u p was t h e o p p o s i t e t o t h a t of t h e y o u n g e r groups. N o n e of t h e Ss in a n y age g r o u p g a v e a n y p r e f e r e n t i a l S R t o t h e m a s k w i t h t h e o u t l i n e d m o u t h (ram) n o r to t h e m a s k w i t h a n u n a l t e r e d ' n a t u r a l ' face (nm). Since, however, t h e m a s k 'ram' was a l w a y s p r e s e n t e d last, t h e c o n s i s t e n t lack of its p r e f e r e n t i a l choice o v e r o t h e r s t i m u l i m a y n o t b e g i v e n as m u c h w e i g h t as t h a t s a m e lack of p r e f e r e n c e for t h e n a t u r a l face, w h i c h was pres e n t e d in first or t h i r d place. T h u s , a t 7 t o 18 weeks of age t h e preference for ' n e o l i t h i c ' t y p e s of face c o n f i g u r a t i o n s o v e r t h e n a t u r a l face is t h e m o s t s i g n i f i c a n t finding. Ideally, 5 d i f f e r e n t sequences s h o u l d h a v e b e e n p r e s e n t e d in w h i c h e a c h s t i m u l u s w o u l d h a v e b e e n in t u r n t h e first one of tile sequence. I t was, h o w e v e r , n o t i c e d t h a t t h e o r d e r of p r e s e n t a t i o n m a d e no s i g n i f i c a n t difference in t h e results w i t h r e s p e c t t o t h e 2 s t i m u l i w h i c h were each p r e s e n t e d first in t u r n w i t h i n t h e 2 sequences used, e.g. t h e n a t u r a l face was n e v e r p r e f e r r e d a t 7 t o 18 weeks of age. Discussion. T h e p r e s e n t s t u d y i d e n t i f i e d a n e w class of specific a n d s i m p l e face c o n f i g u r a t i o n s w h i c h facilitates v i s u a l r e c o g n i t i o n of t h e s t i m u l u s in a n e a r l y p h a s e of t h e SR. A 2nd m e m b e r of t h i s new- class exists in a n e a r l y p h a s e of m a n ' s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n a l art, called ' n e o l i t h i c ' . A 3rd m e m b e r of t h i s class exists i n t h e neurological regression or r e a c t i v a t i o n of e a r l y m o d e s of v i s u a l p r o c e s s i n g : in p r o s o p a g n o s i a . I n it t h e h u m a n face e x c l u s i v e l y is e x p e r i e n c e d as d i s t o r t e d in a specific w a y w h i c h is s t r i k i n g l y a n a l o g o u s to t h e c o n f i g u r a t i o n a l p a t t e r n s of t h e face w h i c h elicited t h e S R p r e f e r e n t i a l l y in t h e y o u n g Ss. T h e r e a p p e a r to b e a t l e a s t 1, if n o t 2, c o m m o n den o m i n a t o r s a m o n g t h e s e 3 m e m b e r s : 1. a f u n c t i o n i n g a t a less d i f f e r e n t i a t e d degree of v i s u a l processing, t h u s f a c i l i t a t i n g v i s u a l p e r c e p t i o n in g e n e r a l ; a n d 2. a facilitating effect on p e r c e p t i o n t r i g g e r e d b y specific face conf i g u r a t i o n s w h i c h were associated a t all e a r l y age w i t h I R M . Could one or e v e n b o t h of t h e s e f a c i l i t a t i n g factors b e o p e r a t i v e d u r i n g d e v e l o p m e n t a l l y ' e a r l y ' p h a s e s as well as u n d e r p a t h o l o g i c a l l y regressive c o n d i t i o n s ? D e s p i t e t h e general c r i t i c a l discussion in t h e l i t e r a t u r e a b o u t t h e e x i s t e n c e of p r o s o p a g n o s i a as a s e p a r a t e e n t i t y , its o c c u r e n c e in a ' p u r e ' f o r m h a s b e e n r e c e n t l y held to be ' t h e o r e t i c a l l y possible' 8, e v e n t h o u g h rarely. T h i s i m p a i r m e n t of v i s u a l r e c o g n i t i o n of t h e h u m a n face e x c l u s i v e l y ' m a y b e partial a n d subtle, b e i n g m o r e for certain c o n f i g u r a t i o n s (of t h e face!) a n d less for o t h e r s ' s (italics added). S u c h a s e l e c t i v i t y ill t h e i m p a i r m e n t of
EXPERIENTIA 31/1
face r e c o g n i t i o n a p p e a r s to b e r e l a t e d to t h e p r e s e n c e or a b s e n c e of t h e f u n c t i o n i n g of a n e a r l y m e c h a n i s m of recognizing t h e face c o n f i g u r a t i o n as s h o w n in t h e p r e s e n t study. C o n s i d e r i n g d e v e l o p m e n t a l l y e a r l y b e h a v i o r , it is especially t h e following f i n d i n g s of p r e v i o u s s t u d i e s a w h i c h a p p e a r in a n e w l y s i g n i f i c a n t l i g h t in t h e c o n t e x t of t h e e x p e r i m e n t a l results here p r e s e n t e d : W h e n t h e eyes as s t i m u l i for t h e e l i c i t a t i o n of S R were r e p r e s e n t e d b y m o v a b l e glass m a r b l e s 3 o n a c u t o u t c a r d b o a r d , t h e i n f a n t s b e t w e e n 2 a n d 4 m o n t h s of age, w h o s e e m e d t o gaze i n t o t h e a d u l t ' s eyes, a c t u a l l y gazed a t t h e a r e a i n t h e middle between the eyes, so t h a t t h e i r gaze was seen s c a n n i n g ill t h e region of t h e bridge o/the nose. I t was also f o u n d in t h e s a m e s t u d y 3 t h a t i n f a n t s a t t h e e n d of t h e 3rd a n d especially d u r i n g tile 4 t h m o n t h of life looked a t o n l y one of tile t w o s i m u l a t e d 'eyes' a t a t i m e , e v e n if t h e 2 glass m a r b l e s were p l a c e d a t a d i s t a n c e o n l y h a l f t h a t of t h e n o r m a l d i s t a n c e b e t w e e n eyes. T h o s e f i n d i n g s 3 of a d e v e l o p m e n t a l l y e a r l y p h a s e c a n n o w be i d e n t i f i e d as s h o w i n g a s t r u c t u r a l a n a l o g y t o tile s y m p t o m s of prosopagnosia. I n a p r e v i o u s c o m p a r i s o n b e t w e e n s t i m u l i eliciting S R a n d p r o s o p a g n o s i a o n l y t h e general area of t h e 'eye r e g i o n ' was c o n s i d e r e d 9. I n d o i n g so, some m o r e generalized p h r a s i n g was used. T h i s was p r o b a b l y t r i g g e r e d b y t h e fact t h a t so f a r t h e d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n 'eye r e g i o n ' vs. 'one eye' h a s n o t y e t b e e n k n o w n to b e essential. T h u s , it was u n d e r s t o o d as if t h e p r o s o p a g n o s i a p a t i e n t w o u l d ' o r i e n t h i m s e l f b y t h e eye r e g i o n ' 9, w h e r e a s it h a d b e e n o b s e r v e d 0 n l y t h a t s u c h p a t i e n t s d i r e c t t h e i r gaze a t one eye 10 _ as t h e y t r y to o r i e n t t h e m s e l v e s b y details of t h e face. More i m p o r t a n t l y , it h a s f u r t h e r b e e n o b s e r v e d , t h a t it is precisely t h e 'eye r e g i o n ' (in its t o t a l c o n f i g u r a t i o n ) , w h i c h is not recognized in p r o s o p a g n o s i a 10-12 b u t w h i c h is e x p e r i e n c e d as d i s t o r t e d , as ' f l a t t e n e d o u t ' a n d as ' w i t h o u t a n y relief' ~0. S u c h a specific d i s t o r t i o n causes a n a p p e a r a n c e of all u n i n t e r r u p t e d f o r e h e a d - n o s e c o n t i n u u m w i t h a n o b l i t e r a t i o n of t h e b r i d g e of t h e nose, w h e r e b y t h e i n d i v i d u a l h u m a n face is n o longer recognizable. T h u s , t h e r e exists a n a n a l o g y b e t w e e n t h e e s s e n t i a l face c o n f i g u r a t i o n s e m p l o y e d b y n e o l i t h i c artifacts, - especially effective in eliciting t h e S R in a n e a r l y p h a s e - a n d t h e specific p r o s o p a g n o s t i c d i s t o r t i o n of face recognition. Aside f r o m t h e n e o l i t h i c face p a t t e r n s ' specific facilitat i o n of t h e 'release' of y o u n g i n f a n t s ' S1R, t h e s e ' e a r l y ' face c o n f i g u r a t i o n s a p p a r e n t l y p r o v i d e a s e c o n d set of factors, w h i c h f a c i l i t a t e v i s u a l p e r c e p t i o n in general: a) figure - g r o u n d d i s t i n c t i o n la-15, w h i c h is fostered b y emphasizing outlines and neglecting 3-dimensional d e p t h (especially a r o u n d t h e b r i d g e of t h e nose); b) emp h a s i s o n simple, r e g u l a r g e o m e t r i c a l f o r m s 1~,19, s u c h as t h e s i n u s o i d a l t y p e (NGr) as well as t h e long s t r a i g h t v e r t i c a l m i d l i n e t y p e (NG1) ; c) e m p h a s i s oil t h e v e r t i c a l 16,1~, i.e. o n t h e nose, n o t on t h e m o u t h .
Preferential smiling response in infants to purely visual stimuli Age groups (in weeks)
'Neolithic' masks (NGr or NG1)
Natural face of E
Total
7-9 10 18 19-25 Total
4 31 4 39
0 4 15 19
4 35 19 58
N = 101. Non reactors, 36 belonging to tile young age groups; eliminated, 7 ambiguous response; final sample, 58. Z = 27.7; p < 0.001.
8 M. B. BENDER and M. FELDMAN, B r a i n 95, 173 (1972). 9 R. AHRENS, Schweiz. Arch. Neurol. Psychiat. 75, 4 (1955). 10 j . BODAMER, Arch. Psychiat. Nervenkr. 179, 6 (1947). 11 I. GLONING, K. GLONING, H. HOFF and H. TSCnAI3ITSCHER, Neuropsychologia 4, 113 (1966). is K. GLONING and R. QUATEMBER, Neuropsychologia d, 133 (1966). 18 K. GOLDSTEI~r The Organism (American Book Company, New Y o r k 1939). I4 T. SHIPLEV, Science 150, 348 (1965). 15 j . KAGAN, Science 770, 826 (1970). ls R. B. LAWSON and D. C. MOUNT, Science 158, 804 (1967). 17 C. EVANS, Med. T r i b u n e 79, 13/2 (1968). is L. HARMON and B. JuLEsz, Science 780, 1194 (1973).
15.1. 1975
Speeialia
P a t t e r n recognition b y c o m p u t e r s was studied ~7 and revealed v e r y significant differences in retinal stability of various geometrical p a t t e r n s : an e m p t y circle was t h e m o s t stable, and t h e second m o s t stable patterr/ was t h a t of a circle w i t h a vertical bisector. (Note the s i m i l a r i t y especially to t h e NGI type). Because of such findings, it was hypothesized17: ' t h e brain is equipped w i t h a large n u m b e r of recognition units which m a y be b o t h genetically cast as well as acquired t h r o u g h experience'. The fact t h a t these early face configurations c o n t a i n factors t h a t facilitate p e r c e p t i o n points to an interrelation b e t w e e n the functioning of a p e r c e p t u a l a p p a r a t u s and
129
the e x t e r n a l stimulus, the p e r c e p t i o n of which has s u r v i v a l value, a v a l u e which t h e h u m a n face has for the infant.
Zusammen[assung. U n t e r den visuellen Reizkonfigurationen, die das Kinderl~Lcheln au.,,o, en, w u r d e eine neue Klasse v o n Frtihformen (NGr ",nd NG1) e x p e r i m e n t e l l identifiziert. Analoge Gesichtskonfigurationen sind in Friihdarstellungen des Gesichts in K u n s t sowie auch in der spezifischen Weise des visuellen E r lebens des Gesichts in t?rosopagnosie zu finden. A. A. PONTIUS 19
New York University, Medical School, Department o] Psychiatry, 550 First Avenue, New York (N.Y. 10016), 27 June 797d.
19 This study was made possible by a Visiting Professorship at the University of Heidelberg, Department of Neurology. Thanks are due to Dir. Prof. Dr. H. G$.NSmRT.
PRO EXPERIMENTIS
Trennung der Blutgruppenagglutinine an DEAE-Zellulose zur Erfassung der 0/A- Unvertriiglichkeit Bet r u n d einem Fiinftel aller Schwangerschaften liegt eine U n v e r t r / i g l i c h k e i t der B l u t g r u p p e n AB0 yon M u t t e r und K i n d vor. Die h/iufigste u n t e r diesen i n k o m p a t i b l e n M u t t e r - K i n d - K o n s t e l l a t i o n e n ist 0/A (9,4%), ferner findet m a n O/B, B / A B (je 2,7%), seltener A / A B (1,5%) und B / A (0,8%) 1. T r o t z der H g u f i g k e i t einer i n k o m p a t i b l e n B l u t g r u p p e n konstellation ist j e d o c h eine E r k r a n k u n g des Kindes selten. Man n i m m t an, dass in diesem Fall miitterliche Agglutinine des I g G - T y p s die P l a z e n t a s c h r a n k e passiert haben. Die sichere serologische Diagnose einer Schgdigung der kindlichen E r y t h r o z y t e n ist h~ufig nicht m6glieh. Man v e r s u c h t daher, die im miitterlichen B l u r v o r h a n d e hen A g g l u t i n i n e in solche yore IgM- und I g G - T y p zu differenzieren. U m diese B e s t i m m u n g einfach und zuverls durchfiihren zu k6nnen, w u r d e eine neue Methode entwickelt, die auf der selektiven Absorption yon IgM an D E A E - Z e l l u l o s e beruht. Dieser neue Test w u r d e m i t der yon REESINK et aI. 2 publizierten Methode des Abbaus yon IgM d u t c h Merkapto~Lthanol verglichen. D i e im mfitterlichen B l u t e r h a l t e n e n B e f u n d e w u r d e n m i t den klinischen D a t e n des zugeh6rigen Kindes verglichen, u m die Brauchbarkei t d e r b e i d e n U n t e r s u c h u n g s m e t h o d e n fiir die Labordiagno~e der E r k r a n k u n g infolge B l u t g r u p p e n U n v e r t r g g l i c h k e i t beurteilen zu k6nnen. Die vorliegende U n t e r s u c h u n g beschr~inkt sich auf die 0/A- und B/AB-Igonstellation. Methoden. a) Adsorption des I g M an DEAE-Zellulose. 500 m g in 0.001 M P h o s p h a t p u f f e r p H 6.8 suspendierte D E A E - Z e l l u l o s e wird in 1R6hrchen pipettiert, zentri-
fugiert und dekantiert. 0.1 ml m t 0.001 M P h o s p h a t puffer 1/5 verdiinntes S e r u m w r,'t m i t der Zellulose vermischt, w~hrend 1 h u n t e r ge!egentlichem Schtitteln bet R a u m t e m p e r a t u r inkubiert und zentrifugiert. Die im ~ b e r s t a n d v e r b l e i b e n d e n A n t i - A - A n t i k 6 r p e r v o m IgGT y p werden im indirekten Coombstest m i t A1-Erythroz y t e n b e s t i m m t . Die vollst~indige E n t f e r n u n g des IgM und der G e h a l t an I g G im l J b e r s t a n d w u r d e n m i t der Mancini-Technik auf P a r t i g e n - P l a t t e n (Behring, Marburg) gepriift. b) Abbau des IgM mit Merkaptoiithanol ~. 0.1 ml Serum wird m i t 0,1 m l 0,2 M Merkaptoitthanol in 0,1 M P h o s p h a t p u f f e r p H 7.2 gemischt und w/ihrend 2 h bet R a u m t e m p e r a t u r inkubiert. Die Probe wird m i t 0.3 ml P h o s p h a t p u f f e r verdiinnt, und die A n t i - A - A n t i k 6 r p e r werden m i t d e m indirekten Coombstest b e s t i m m t . Bet beiden Methoden wurde ein A n t i - A - T i t e r yon > 1/20 positiv bewertet. Untersuchungsmaterial und hlinische Daten. Von 118 Miittern w u r d e n B l u t p r o b e n untersucht, die kurz n a c h der G e b u r t e n t n o m m e n wurden. D a b e i w u r d e d a r a u f geachier, dass ungefS, hr die gleiche Zahl k o m p a t i b l e r und i n k o m p a t i b l e r B l u t g r u p p e n k o n s t e l l a t i o n e n vorlag. Den K r a n k e n g e s c h i c h t e n w u r d e n die B l u t g r u p p e n yon M u t t e r
1 U. G6BEL, M. HAERINGund A. M. WINGEN,Dt. reed. Wschr. 98, 703 (1973). 2 H. W. RE'SINK, ~. VAN DER HART und J. J. VAN LOCHEM,VOX Sang. 22, 397 (1972).
TabeIle I. Titerh6he von Anti-A-IgG im ME- und DEAE-Zellulose-Test. Titervergleieh bet 30 positiven Seren Titer
1/20
1/40
1180
1/160
1]320
Anzahl Seren ME-Test DEAE-Zellulose-Test
7 12
7 6
9 10
4 2
3 0
total 30 total 30
126
EXPERIENTIA 31/1
Tableau II. Traitement
T6moins D6capit6s D6capit6s + cort~sol T6moins ~
Carbamyl-phosphate synth6tase
Ornitbine transcarbamylase
[xMIh/g foie
~xMImgprot6ines
~LMIh/gfoie
~zMlmg prot@ines
51,0 • 10,0 (10) ~ 22,8 • 5,0 (10) b 91,9 ~ 19,5 (7) ~ 68,9 2~ 13,4 (7)
0,503 4- 0,071 (10) u 0,226 4- 0,021 (10) u 1,160 == 0,245 (7) b 0,877 4- 0,166 (7)
2080 -t- 385 (13)~ 1474 4- 218 (13) ~ 2230 4- 612 (7) ~ 2934 4- 733 (7)
20,6 + 3,7 (13) 14,5 4- 2,1 (13) b 28,1 4- 7,7 (7) b 37,3 4- 9,4 (7)
Foetus t6moins de la in6me port6e. Moyennes ~- intervalle de confiance au niveau de probabilitY: p = 0.95. b Diff6renee significative pour p 0,05. () Nombre de mesures.
et o/1 le t a u x de c o r t i c o s t g r o n e c i r c u l a n t e est le pIus 61ev61,, 15. Nos r6sultats m o n t r e n t en effet que l ' a u g m e n t a t i o n d ' a c t i v i t 6 de ces e n z y m e s qui s u r v i e n t ~ p a r t i r de 19,5 jours d @ e n d de la pr6sence des corticost6roides, ceci est en accord avec le fair bien c o n n u que ces h o r m o n e s c o n t r 6 I e n t la m a t u r a t i o n f o n c t i o n n e l l e du foie foetal16. Le r61e i m p o r t a n t des corUcost6roides d a n s la r6gulation de l ' a c t i v i t 6 des e n z y m e s impliqu6es d a n s la s y n t h S s e de l'ur6e a d6jS~ 6t6 mis en 6vidence, apr~s la n a i s s a n c e et chez le r a t adulte12,1'-21. Cette a c t i v i t 6 est d i m i n u 6 e apr~s s u r r 6 n a l e c t o m i e ou a u g m e n t e apr~s l ' a d m i n i s t r a t i o n de cortisol ou de t r i a m c i n o l o n e . L ' e f f e t de l ' a p p o r t s u p p l 6 m e n t a i r e de corticost6roides exog~nes a aussi ~t6 6tudi6 chez le foetus s~. A u c u n effet n ' e s t observ6 e n t r e 19,5 jours et la naissance p r o b a b l e m e n t p a r c e que le t a u x de c o r t i c o s t 6 r o n e endog~ne est d6j~ r e l a t i v e m e n t i m p o r t a n t au cours de
14 p. G. HOLT and I. T. OLIVER,13iochem. J. 108, 339 (1968). 15 j. p. DuPouY, soumis. 16 R. A. FREEDLANDand C. H. SODIKOFF,Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. Med. 109, 394 (1962). 1~ p. Mc LEAN and M. W. GIJRNEY, Biochem. J. 87, 96 (1963). 16 R. T. SCHIUKE,J. biol. Chem, 238, 1012 (1963). 19 R. A. FREEDLAND, Soe. Exp. Biol. Med. 116, 692 (1964). 20H. ILLNEROVA,Physiologia bohemoslov. 15, 23 (1966), =I O. GREENGARD, M. I~. SAHIB and W. E. KNox, Arch. 13ioehem. Biophys. 137, 477 (1970). =2 A. L. SCHWARTZ,Bioehem. J. 126, 89 (1972). ~a Ce travail a dr6 r~alis6 avee l'aide de la D616gation G6n6rale 5 la Recherche Scientifique et Technique (contrat No. 73 71148).
c e t t e p6riode 14,1~. E n fait, le foie foetal s e m b l e c a p a b l e de r 6 p o n d r e g c e s t a d e du d 6 v e l o p p e m e n t . SCHWARTZ2~ a en effet m o n t r 6 que les glucocorticost6ro~des p e u v e n t a u g m e n t e r l ' a c t i v i t 6 du s y s t ~ m e arginine s y n t h 6 t a s e darts le foie foetal mis en culture. Nos r 6 s u l t a t s m o n t r e n t d ' a i l l e u r s que l ' a p p o r t de cortisol a u x foetus d~s l'gge de 18,5 jours p e r m e t d ' a u g m e n t e r l ' a c t i v i t 6 de la c a r b a m y l p h o s p h a t e s y n t h 6 t a s e e t de l ' o r n i t h i n e t r a n s c a r b a m y l a s e g u n n i v e a u plus 61ev6 que la n o r m a l e . Des 6tudes s o n t a c t u e l l e m e n t en cours p o u r pr4ciser si l ' a d m i n i s t r a t i o n de glucocorticost6roides au foetus b i e n a v a n t que les surr6nales soient stimul6es p e u t accrottre p r 6 m a t u r 6 m e n t l'activit6 enzymatique.
Summary. Two e n z y m e s of t h e urea-cycle ( c a r b a m y i phosphate synthetase and ornithine transcarbamylase) h a v e b e e n s t u d i e d in t h e liver of f o e t u s e s a n d n e w b o r n r a t s a n d of foetuses lacking of corticosteroids. I n c o n t r o l foetus, s i m u l t a n e o u s a n d r e g u l a r increase of t h e b o t h e n z y m e a c t i v i t y was o b s e r v e d b e t w e e n 17.5 d a y s of p r e g n a n c y a n d b i r t h . The lack of c o r t i c o s t e r o i d f r o m 18.5 d a y s of p r e g n a n c y caused a m a r k e d d i m i n u t i o n of t h e e n z y m e a c t i v i t y . This a c t i v i t y is e n h a n c e d a f t e r adm i n i s t r a t i o n of cortisol (hydrocortisone) t o t h e s e 18.5d a y - o l d foetuses lacking of corticosteroids. C. GAUTIER, A. HUSSON et R. VAILLANT23
Universitd de Rouen, Laboratoire d'Endocrinologie, U.E.R. des Sciences et Techniques, F-76730 Mont-Saint-Aignan (France), 24 J u i n 7974.
COGITATIONES
Developmental Phases in Visual Recognition of the H u m a n Face Pattern, Exemplified by the 'Smiling Response' This s t u d y is a b o u t d e v e l o p m e n t a l p h a s e s of visual r e c o g n i t i o n of t h e c o n f i g u r a t i o n s of t h e h u m a n face, w h i c h f u n c t i o n as 'releasers '1 for i n f a n t s ' ' s m i l i n g r e s p o n s e ' (SR). This r e s p o n s e is associated w i t h a m e c h a n i s m analogous t o t h a t of t h e ' i n n a t e releasing m e c h a n i s m ' (IRM) S. Thus, t h e s t u d y of S R can offer clues a b o u t a v e r y early stage in t h e processing of visual stimuli. The i n f a n t s ' S R t o t h e h u m a n face has so far b e e n f o u n d t o be a r e a c t i o n t o t h e 'releaser '1 s t i m u l u s consisting of t h e general c o n f i g u r a t i o n of t h e ' f o r e h e a d - e y e s nose sector' 1. This area, w h e n p r e s e n t e d as a s t i m u h s for
S R was either left unaltered or was simplified by presenting the nose as small or non-existent and the eye region by two dot-like shapes. O n e study had replaced the eyes by movable glass marbles behind a cut-out square card board frame s. This experimental set-up demonstrated that it was the 'invariable Gestalt con1 R. A. SPITZ, The First Year o] Li]e (Int. University Press, New York 1965). 2 N. TINBERGEN and D. J. t{UENEN, Z. Tierpsychol. 2, 37 (1939). 3 E. t(AILA, Annls. Univ. fenn. abo, Serie 13 17, 5 (1932).
15.1. 1975
Specialia
f i g u r a t i o n of t h e eye region' ~ w h i c h elicited SR. A n o t h e r s t u d y used p h o t o g r a p h s of t h e e s s e n t i a l l y u n a l t e r e d c o n f i g u r a t i o n of t h e face 4. T h e r e was s h o w n a n ager e l a t e d d i f f e r e n t ' l a t e n c y ' in S R t o t h e face a n d t o its p h o t o g r a p h . T h e l a t t e r h a d 'a m o r e s t r i k i n g c o n t r a s t a g a i n s t t h e b a c k g r o u n d of t h e face. S h a d o w s a c c e n t u a t e d t h e v e r t i c a l lille of t h e nose a n d t h e h o r i z o n t a l line of t h e eyes' 4. The p r e s e n t s t u d y offers t h e h y p o t h e s i s t h a t t h e i n f a n t smiles m o r e r e a d i l y t o simple p a t t e r n s of t h e face w h i c h are specifically p a t t e r n e d a f t e r m a n ' s v e r y early, e.g. ' n e o l i t h i c ' w a y s of r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e h u m a n face in art. I n these, t h e v e r t i c a l m i d l i n e sector of t h e face is specifically altered, in a w a y u n i q u e in art, t o f o r m a f o r e h e a d - n o s e c o n t i n u u m while o b l i t e r a t i n g t h e b r i d g e of t h e nose (Figure, N G r a n d NG1) a n d n e g l e c t i n g or omitting the mouth. T h e ' n e o l i t h i c ' face c o n f i g u r a t i o n s were f o u n d worldw i d e in a r t up t o a b o u t 4000 y e a r s ago as o b s e r v e d in a n c i e n t a r t i f a c t s 5. H o w e v e r , in t h e r e m o t e enclave area of t h e U p p e r S e p i k R i v e r of N e w Guinea t h e a u t h o r on a r e c e n t v i s i t t h e r e collected a r t i f a c t s a n d d r a w i n g s still s h o w i n g s u c h ' n e o l i t h i c ' face c o n f i g u r a t i o n s . S u c h a select i o n of s t i m u l u s p a t t e r n s for t h e S R is b a s e d on t h e empirically s u p p o r t e d v i e w t h a t t h e r e exists a n ' e v o l u t i o n ary h i e r a r c h y of levels of l e a r n i n g a n d of p e r c e p t i o n a n d t h i n k i n g ' 6, a n d t h a t early levels can coexist w i t h l a t e r ones in a d u l t s or can b e / e a c t i v a t e d . Method. I n a cross s e c t i o n m e t h o d , 101 r a n d o m l y o b t a i n e d i n f a n t s ( b o t h b o y s a n d girls) f r o m 7 to 25 weeks of age were t e s t e d . T h e Ss were all t h e i n f a n t s of t h i s age g r o u p available a t 13 i n s t i t u t i o n s in 7 cities of W e s t G e r m a n y . T h e s e i n s t i t u t i o n s were m o s t l y for i n f a n t s of u n w e d t e e n a g e m o t h e r s of a low socio-economic level. The i n f a n t s were of v a r i o u s e t h n i c groups, m o s t l y of G e r m a n m o t h e r s a n d of f a t h e r s m a n y of w h o m were
Stimuli. NGr: 'neolithic' type mask with sinusoidal outlines of the mid-forehead-nose continuum, the bridge of the nose being as wide as the tip of the nose. The mouth is small and deep-set. NGh 'neolithic' type mask with long vertical midline, beginning above the eye level. The mouth is neglected, nm: 'natural', unaltered mask. mm: mask with mouth outlined. (E's natural face, female, brown hair, without make-up was also presented as a stimulus).
127
g u e s t - w o r k e r s f r o m v a r i o u s E u r o p e a n countries. No neurological or o t h e r p a t h o l o g y was r e p o r t e d in t h e Ss. The u p p e r e n d of t h e age r a n g e p r e s e n t e d itself as a necessity, since b y t h i s age t h e r e were few of t h e ins t i t u t i o n a l i z e d i n f a n t s n o t y e t a d o p t e d or o t h e r w i s e placed. M o r e o v e r t h o s e i n f a n t s n o t y e t p l a c e d b y 25 weeks of age m i g h t no longer h a v e r e p r e s e n t e d a r a n d o m s a m p l e b u t a n e g a t i v e selection for v a r i o u s reasons. H a d t h e t e s t results h o w e v e r r e v e a l e d a h i g h degree of p r e f e r e n c e for ' n e o l i t h i c ' face c o n f i g u r a t i o n s a r o u n d 25 weeks of age, t h e n o t h e r sources for r e c r u t i n g Ss 25 t o a b o u t 28 weeks of age would h a v e h a d to be t a p p e d , t h o u g h n o t older ones, since b y 7 or 8 m o n t h s of life it is t h e i n d i v i d u a l ' s facial f e a t u r e s w h i c h elicit SR. All t e s t i n g was done indoors b y d a y l i g h t while t h e Ss were lying on t h e i r b a c k in t h e i r crib a f t e r feeding. Clinical o b s e r v a t i o n s suggest t h a t t h e Ss were on t h e arousal level called 'alert a c t i v i t y ' 7. Only p u r e l y visual s t i m u l i were p r e s e n t e d . These were 5 face c o n f i g u r a t i o n s (Figure): 4 full-face male masks, w h i c h were specifically a l t e r e d a n d p u t on E ' s h e a d . E ' s n a t u r a l face was used as a 5th stimulus. All s t i m u l i were p r e s e n t e d en face w i t h 2 p e r sec n o d d i n g m o t i o n s r a n g i n g ca. 20 to 30 c m f r o m t h e Ss' faces. To a v o i d an order effect, 2 sequences of s t i m u l i were p r e s e n t e d , a l t e r n a t i n g b e t w e e n t h e n a t u r a l face or n a t u r a l m a s k a n d m a s k s w i t h various a c c e n t u a t i o n s of features. Thus, one S was given s e q u e n c e A, t h e n e x t S s e q u e n c e B. S e q u e n c e A was: 1. n a t u r a l face, 2. NGr, 3. n m , 4. NGI, 5. ram. S e q u e n c e B was : 1. NGr, 2. n a t u r a l face, 3. NG1, 4. rim, 5. m m . These t w o sequences a l t e r n a t e b e t w e e n t h e n a t u r a l face or t h e m a s k r e s e m b l i n g it on one h a n d a n d on t h e o t h e r h a n d t h e ' n e o l i t h i c ' t y p e masks, w h i c h in t u r n were p r e s e n t e d in a l t e r n a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e r o u n d i s h (NGr) a n d t h e longish (NG1) t y p e s , The 5th stimulus, t h e m a s k w i t h t h e a c c e n t u a t e d m o u t h (mm), h a v i n g no p a r t n e r , was p r e s e n t e d a t t h e e n d of e a c h sequence. T h u s m a s k ' r a m ' followed once a ' n e o l i t h i c ' t y p e m a s k a n d t h e n e x t t i m e a ' n o r m a l ' t y p e of face stimulus. A visual p r e f e r e n c e m e t h o d was used t o m e a s u r e t h e f a s t e s t r e a c t i o n t i m e of Ss following p r e s e n t a t i o n of t h e stimuli. I n o r d e r t o rule o u t c h a n c e results, t h e s t i m u l u s s e q u e n c e was p r e s e n t e d t w i c e t o each S. If a n y difference occurred, t h e s a m e s e q u e n c e was p r e s e n t e d a t h i r d t i m e to clarify t h e preference. A t h i r d p r e s e n t a t i o n was only n e c e s s a r y in v e r y few cases. M e a s u r i n g b y s t o p - w a t c h was b e g u n as soon as t h e S h a d o r i e n t e d his h e a d a n d eyes t o w a r d t h e s t i m u l u s a n d h a d f i x a t e d it. The p r e s e n t a t i o n v a r i e d f r o m 1 sec to 3 min, d e p e n d i n g u p o n t h e o n s e t of t h e i n f a n t ' s full, o p e n m o u t h SR. A f t e r 3 min, t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n of t h e p a r t i c u l a r s t i m u l u s was d i s c o n t i n u e d . I f t h e r e was n e v e r a n y smiling w i t h i n 3 rain, t h e s e Ss were e l i m i n a t e d f r o m t h e sample. Only t h e f a s t e s t full, w i d e o p e n m o u t h S R was c o u n t e d in an all or n o n e m e a s u r e m e n t . To a v o i d h a b i t u a t i o n a n d e x p e r i m e n t - i n d u c e d h e i g h t e n e d arousal, a n i n t e r t r i a l i n t e r v a l of ca. 2 rain was used. If Ss b e c a m e d e s i n t e r e s t e d , t e s t i n g was h a l t e d a n d r e s u m e d w h e n S was again in a n a l e r t state.
4 p. R. POL&K, R. N. EMDE a n d R. A. SPITZ, J. n e r v . m e n t . Dis.
139,
407 (1964), 5 C. A. SCHLITZ, Oceanic Art (Harry N. Abrams, New York 1969). Ca. RAZRAN,in ScientiJic Psychology (Eds. B. 13. WOLMAN and E. NAGEL; Basic Books, New York 1965), p. 207-253. P. H. WOLFF,in Determi~cants of Inlant Behaviour (Ed. ]3. M. Foss ; Methuen, London 1963), vol. 2, p. 113.
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Speeialia
Results are s u m m a r i z e d in t h e Table. T h e h y p o t h e s i s was c o n f i r m e d o n l y in t h e y o u n g age g r o u p s (7 t o 18 weeks): T h e r e was a h i g h l y s i g n i f i c a n t p r e f e r e n t i a l r e a c t i o n to t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n of facial c o n f i g u r a t i o n s , r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e ' n e o l i t h i c ' p a t t e r n s (NGr a n d NG1). B y c o n t r a s t , t h e r e a c t i o n of t h e oldest age g r o u p was t h e o p p o s i t e t o t h a t of t h e y o u n g e r groups. N o n e of t h e Ss in a n y age g r o u p g a v e a n y p r e f e r e n t i a l S R t o t h e m a s k w i t h t h e o u t l i n e d m o u t h (ram) n o r to t h e m a s k w i t h a n u n a l t e r e d ' n a t u r a l ' face (nm). Since, however, t h e m a s k 'ram' was a l w a y s p r e s e n t e d last, t h e c o n s i s t e n t lack of its p r e f e r e n t i a l choice o v e r o t h e r s t i m u l i m a y n o t b e g i v e n as m u c h w e i g h t as t h a t s a m e lack of p r e f e r e n c e for t h e n a t u r a l face, w h i c h was pres e n t e d in first or t h i r d place. T h u s , a t 7 t o 18 weeks of age t h e preference for ' n e o l i t h i c ' t y p e s of face c o n f i g u r a t i o n s o v e r t h e n a t u r a l face is t h e m o s t s i g n i f i c a n t finding. Ideally, 5 d i f f e r e n t sequences s h o u l d h a v e b e e n p r e s e n t e d in w h i c h e a c h s t i m u l u s w o u l d h a v e b e e n in t u r n t h e first one of tile sequence. I t was, h o w e v e r , n o t i c e d t h a t t h e o r d e r of p r e s e n t a t i o n m a d e no s i g n i f i c a n t difference in t h e results w i t h r e s p e c t t o t h e 2 s t i m u l i w h i c h were each p r e s e n t e d first in t u r n w i t h i n t h e 2 sequences used, e.g. t h e n a t u r a l face was n e v e r p r e f e r r e d a t 7 t o 18 weeks of age. Discussion. T h e p r e s e n t s t u d y i d e n t i f i e d a n e w class of specific a n d s i m p l e face c o n f i g u r a t i o n s w h i c h facilitates v i s u a l r e c o g n i t i o n of t h e s t i m u l u s in a n e a r l y p h a s e of t h e SR. A 2nd m e m b e r of t h i s new- class exists in a n e a r l y p h a s e of m a n ' s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n a l art, called ' n e o l i t h i c ' . A 3rd m e m b e r of t h i s class exists i n t h e neurological regression or r e a c t i v a t i o n of e a r l y m o d e s of v i s u a l p r o c e s s i n g : in p r o s o p a g n o s i a . I n it t h e h u m a n face e x c l u s i v e l y is e x p e r i e n c e d as d i s t o r t e d in a specific w a y w h i c h is s t r i k i n g l y a n a l o g o u s to t h e c o n f i g u r a t i o n a l p a t t e r n s of t h e face w h i c h elicited t h e S R p r e f e r e n t i a l l y in t h e y o u n g Ss. T h e r e a p p e a r to b e a t l e a s t 1, if n o t 2, c o m m o n den o m i n a t o r s a m o n g t h e s e 3 m e m b e r s : 1. a f u n c t i o n i n g a t a less d i f f e r e n t i a t e d degree of v i s u a l processing, t h u s f a c i l i t a t i n g v i s u a l p e r c e p t i o n in g e n e r a l ; a n d 2. a facilitating effect on p e r c e p t i o n t r i g g e r e d b y specific face conf i g u r a t i o n s w h i c h were associated a t all e a r l y age w i t h I R M . Could one or e v e n b o t h of t h e s e f a c i l i t a t i n g factors b e o p e r a t i v e d u r i n g d e v e l o p m e n t a l l y ' e a r l y ' p h a s e s as well as u n d e r p a t h o l o g i c a l l y regressive c o n d i t i o n s ? D e s p i t e t h e general c r i t i c a l discussion in t h e l i t e r a t u r e a b o u t t h e e x i s t e n c e of p r o s o p a g n o s i a as a s e p a r a t e e n t i t y , its o c c u r e n c e in a ' p u r e ' f o r m h a s b e e n r e c e n t l y held to be ' t h e o r e t i c a l l y possible' 8, e v e n t h o u g h rarely. T h i s i m p a i r m e n t of v i s u a l r e c o g n i t i o n of t h e h u m a n face e x c l u s i v e l y ' m a y b e partial a n d subtle, b e i n g m o r e for certain c o n f i g u r a t i o n s (of t h e face!) a n d less for o t h e r s ' s (italics added). S u c h a s e l e c t i v i t y ill t h e i m p a i r m e n t of
EXPERIENTIA 31/1
face r e c o g n i t i o n a p p e a r s to b e r e l a t e d to t h e p r e s e n c e or a b s e n c e of t h e f u n c t i o n i n g of a n e a r l y m e c h a n i s m of recognizing t h e face c o n f i g u r a t i o n as s h o w n in t h e p r e s e n t study. C o n s i d e r i n g d e v e l o p m e n t a l l y e a r l y b e h a v i o r , it is especially t h e following f i n d i n g s of p r e v i o u s s t u d i e s a w h i c h a p p e a r in a n e w l y s i g n i f i c a n t l i g h t in t h e c o n t e x t of t h e e x p e r i m e n t a l results here p r e s e n t e d : W h e n t h e eyes as s t i m u l i for t h e e l i c i t a t i o n of S R were r e p r e s e n t e d b y m o v a b l e glass m a r b l e s 3 o n a c u t o u t c a r d b o a r d , t h e i n f a n t s b e t w e e n 2 a n d 4 m o n t h s of age, w h o s e e m e d t o gaze i n t o t h e a d u l t ' s eyes, a c t u a l l y gazed a t t h e a r e a i n t h e middle between the eyes, so t h a t t h e i r gaze was seen s c a n n i n g ill t h e region of t h e bridge o/the nose. I t was also f o u n d in t h e s a m e s t u d y 3 t h a t i n f a n t s a t t h e e n d of t h e 3rd a n d especially d u r i n g tile 4 t h m o n t h of life looked a t o n l y one of tile t w o s i m u l a t e d 'eyes' a t a t i m e , e v e n if t h e 2 glass m a r b l e s were p l a c e d a t a d i s t a n c e o n l y h a l f t h a t of t h e n o r m a l d i s t a n c e b e t w e e n eyes. T h o s e f i n d i n g s 3 of a d e v e l o p m e n t a l l y e a r l y p h a s e c a n n o w be i d e n t i f i e d as s h o w i n g a s t r u c t u r a l a n a l o g y t o tile s y m p t o m s of prosopagnosia. I n a p r e v i o u s c o m p a r i s o n b e t w e e n s t i m u l i eliciting S R a n d p r o s o p a g n o s i a o n l y t h e general area of t h e 'eye r e g i o n ' was c o n s i d e r e d 9. I n d o i n g so, some m o r e generalized p h r a s i n g was used. T h i s was p r o b a b l y t r i g g e r e d b y t h e fact t h a t so f a r t h e d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n 'eye r e g i o n ' vs. 'one eye' h a s n o t y e t b e e n k n o w n to b e essential. T h u s , it was u n d e r s t o o d as if t h e p r o s o p a g n o s i a p a t i e n t w o u l d ' o r i e n t h i m s e l f b y t h e eye r e g i o n ' 9, w h e r e a s it h a d b e e n o b s e r v e d 0 n l y t h a t s u c h p a t i e n t s d i r e c t t h e i r gaze a t one eye 10 _ as t h e y t r y to o r i e n t t h e m s e l v e s b y details of t h e face. More i m p o r t a n t l y , it h a s f u r t h e r b e e n o b s e r v e d , t h a t it is precisely t h e 'eye r e g i o n ' (in its t o t a l c o n f i g u r a t i o n ) , w h i c h is not recognized in p r o s o p a g n o s i a 10-12 b u t w h i c h is e x p e r i e n c e d as d i s t o r t e d , as ' f l a t t e n e d o u t ' a n d as ' w i t h o u t a n y relief' ~0. S u c h a specific d i s t o r t i o n causes a n a p p e a r a n c e of all u n i n t e r r u p t e d f o r e h e a d - n o s e c o n t i n u u m w i t h a n o b l i t e r a t i o n of t h e b r i d g e of t h e nose, w h e r e b y t h e i n d i v i d u a l h u m a n face is n o longer recognizable. T h u s , t h e r e exists a n a n a l o g y b e t w e e n t h e e s s e n t i a l face c o n f i g u r a t i o n s e m p l o y e d b y n e o l i t h i c artifacts, - especially effective in eliciting t h e S R in a n e a r l y p h a s e - a n d t h e specific p r o s o p a g n o s t i c d i s t o r t i o n of face recognition. Aside f r o m t h e n e o l i t h i c face p a t t e r n s ' specific facilitat i o n of t h e 'release' of y o u n g i n f a n t s ' S1R, t h e s e ' e a r l y ' face c o n f i g u r a t i o n s a p p a r e n t l y p r o v i d e a s e c o n d set of factors, w h i c h f a c i l i t a t e v i s u a l p e r c e p t i o n in general: a) figure - g r o u n d d i s t i n c t i o n la-15, w h i c h is fostered b y emphasizing outlines and neglecting 3-dimensional d e p t h (especially a r o u n d t h e b r i d g e of t h e nose); b) emp h a s i s o n simple, r e g u l a r g e o m e t r i c a l f o r m s 1~,19, s u c h as t h e s i n u s o i d a l t y p e (NGr) as well as t h e long s t r a i g h t v e r t i c a l m i d l i n e t y p e (NG1) ; c) e m p h a s i s oil t h e v e r t i c a l 16,1~, i.e. o n t h e nose, n o t on t h e m o u t h .
Preferential smiling response in infants to purely visual stimuli Age groups (in weeks)
'Neolithic' masks (NGr or NG1)
Natural face of E
Total
7-9 10 18 19-25 Total
4 31 4 39
0 4 15 19
4 35 19 58
N = 101. Non reactors, 36 belonging to tile young age groups; eliminated, 7 ambiguous response; final sample, 58. Z = 27.7; p < 0.001.
8 M. B. BENDER and M. FELDMAN, B r a i n 95, 173 (1972). 9 R. AHRENS, Schweiz. Arch. Neurol. Psychiat. 75, 4 (1955). 10 j . BODAMER, Arch. Psychiat. Nervenkr. 179, 6 (1947). 11 I. GLONING, K. GLONING, H. HOFF and H. TSCnAI3ITSCHER, Neuropsychologia 4, 113 (1966). is K. GLONING and R. QUATEMBER, Neuropsychologia d, 133 (1966). 18 K. GOLDSTEI~r The Organism (American Book Company, New Y o r k 1939). I4 T. SHIPLEV, Science 150, 348 (1965). 15 j . KAGAN, Science 770, 826 (1970). ls R. B. LAWSON and D. C. MOUNT, Science 158, 804 (1967). 17 C. EVANS, Med. T r i b u n e 79, 13/2 (1968). is L. HARMON and B. JuLEsz, Science 780, 1194 (1973).
15.1. 1975
Speeialia
P a t t e r n recognition b y c o m p u t e r s was studied ~7 and revealed v e r y significant differences in retinal stability of various geometrical p a t t e r n s : an e m p t y circle was t h e m o s t stable, and t h e second m o s t stable patterr/ was t h a t of a circle w i t h a vertical bisector. (Note the s i m i l a r i t y especially to t h e NGI type). Because of such findings, it was hypothesized17: ' t h e brain is equipped w i t h a large n u m b e r of recognition units which m a y be b o t h genetically cast as well as acquired t h r o u g h experience'. The fact t h a t these early face configurations c o n t a i n factors t h a t facilitate p e r c e p t i o n points to an interrelation b e t w e e n the functioning of a p e r c e p t u a l a p p a r a t u s and
129
the e x t e r n a l stimulus, the p e r c e p t i o n of which has s u r v i v a l value, a v a l u e which t h e h u m a n face has for the infant.
Zusammen[assung. U n t e r den visuellen Reizkonfigurationen, die das Kinderl~Lcheln au.,,o, en, w u r d e eine neue Klasse v o n Frtihformen (NGr ",nd NG1) e x p e r i m e n t e l l identifiziert. Analoge Gesichtskonfigurationen sind in Friihdarstellungen des Gesichts in K u n s t sowie auch in der spezifischen Weise des visuellen E r lebens des Gesichts in t?rosopagnosie zu finden. A. A. PONTIUS 19
New York University, Medical School, Department o] Psychiatry, 550 First Avenue, New York (N.Y. 10016), 27 June 797d.
19 This study was made possible by a Visiting Professorship at the University of Heidelberg, Department of Neurology. Thanks are due to Dir. Prof. Dr. H. G$.NSmRT.
PRO EXPERIMENTIS
Trennung der Blutgruppenagglutinine an DEAE-Zellulose zur Erfassung der 0/A- Unvertriiglichkeit Bet r u n d einem Fiinftel aller Schwangerschaften liegt eine U n v e r t r / i g l i c h k e i t der B l u t g r u p p e n AB0 yon M u t t e r und K i n d vor. Die h/iufigste u n t e r diesen i n k o m p a t i b l e n M u t t e r - K i n d - K o n s t e l l a t i o n e n ist 0/A (9,4%), ferner findet m a n O/B, B / A B (je 2,7%), seltener A / A B (1,5%) und B / A (0,8%) 1. T r o t z der H g u f i g k e i t einer i n k o m p a t i b l e n B l u t g r u p p e n konstellation ist j e d o c h eine E r k r a n k u n g des Kindes selten. Man n i m m t an, dass in diesem Fall miitterliche Agglutinine des I g G - T y p s die P l a z e n t a s c h r a n k e passiert haben. Die sichere serologische Diagnose einer Schgdigung der kindlichen E r y t h r o z y t e n ist h~ufig nicht m6glieh. Man v e r s u c h t daher, die im miitterlichen B l u r v o r h a n d e hen A g g l u t i n i n e in solche yore IgM- und I g G - T y p zu differenzieren. U m diese B e s t i m m u n g einfach und zuverls durchfiihren zu k6nnen, w u r d e eine neue Methode entwickelt, die auf der selektiven Absorption yon IgM an D E A E - Z e l l u l o s e beruht. Dieser neue Test w u r d e m i t der yon REESINK et aI. 2 publizierten Methode des Abbaus yon IgM d u t c h Merkapto~Lthanol verglichen. D i e im mfitterlichen B l u t e r h a l t e n e n B e f u n d e w u r d e n m i t den klinischen D a t e n des zugeh6rigen Kindes verglichen, u m die Brauchbarkei t d e r b e i d e n U n t e r s u c h u n g s m e t h o d e n fiir die Labordiagno~e der E r k r a n k u n g infolge B l u t g r u p p e n U n v e r t r g g l i c h k e i t beurteilen zu k6nnen. Die vorliegende U n t e r s u c h u n g beschr~inkt sich auf die 0/A- und B/AB-Igonstellation. Methoden. a) Adsorption des I g M an DEAE-Zellulose. 500 m g in 0.001 M P h o s p h a t p u f f e r p H 6.8 suspendierte D E A E - Z e l l u l o s e wird in 1R6hrchen pipettiert, zentri-
fugiert und dekantiert. 0.1 ml m t 0.001 M P h o s p h a t puffer 1/5 verdiinntes S e r u m w r,'t m i t der Zellulose vermischt, w~hrend 1 h u n t e r ge!egentlichem Schtitteln bet R a u m t e m p e r a t u r inkubiert und zentrifugiert. Die im ~ b e r s t a n d v e r b l e i b e n d e n A n t i - A - A n t i k 6 r p e r v o m IgGT y p werden im indirekten Coombstest m i t A1-Erythroz y t e n b e s t i m m t . Die vollst~indige E n t f e r n u n g des IgM und der G e h a l t an I g G im l J b e r s t a n d w u r d e n m i t der Mancini-Technik auf P a r t i g e n - P l a t t e n (Behring, Marburg) gepriift. b) Abbau des IgM mit Merkaptoiithanol ~. 0.1 ml Serum wird m i t 0,1 m l 0,2 M Merkaptoitthanol in 0,1 M P h o s p h a t p u f f e r p H 7.2 gemischt und w/ihrend 2 h bet R a u m t e m p e r a t u r inkubiert. Die Probe wird m i t 0.3 ml P h o s p h a t p u f f e r verdiinnt, und die A n t i - A - A n t i k 6 r p e r werden m i t d e m indirekten Coombstest b e s t i m m t . Bet beiden Methoden wurde ein A n t i - A - T i t e r yon > 1/20 positiv bewertet. Untersuchungsmaterial und hlinische Daten. Von 118 Miittern w u r d e n B l u t p r o b e n untersucht, die kurz n a c h der G e b u r t e n t n o m m e n wurden. D a b e i w u r d e d a r a u f geachier, dass ungefS, hr die gleiche Zahl k o m p a t i b l e r und i n k o m p a t i b l e r B l u t g r u p p e n k o n s t e l l a t i o n e n vorlag. Den K r a n k e n g e s c h i c h t e n w u r d e n die B l u t g r u p p e n yon M u t t e r
1 U. G6BEL, M. HAERINGund A. M. WINGEN,Dt. reed. Wschr. 98, 703 (1973). 2 H. W. RE'SINK, ~. VAN DER HART und J. J. VAN LOCHEM,VOX Sang. 22, 397 (1972).
TabeIle I. Titerh6he von Anti-A-IgG im ME- und DEAE-Zellulose-Test. Titervergleieh bet 30 positiven Seren Titer
1/20
1/40
1180
1/160
1]320
Anzahl Seren ME-Test DEAE-Zellulose-Test
7 12
7 6
9 10
4 2
3 0
total 30 total 30
