Which Face Represents Me? The Neural Responses of a Face Transplant Patient to His Past and Present Face

Which Face Represents Me? The Neural Responses of a Face Transplant Patient to His Past and Present Face | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Which Face Represents Me? The Neural Responses of a Face Transplant Patient to His Past and Present Face Evrim Gülbetekin, Seda Bayraktar, Ömer Özkan, Özlenen Özkan, Turan Gunduz, and 4 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6579007/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 13 Oct, 2025 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted 10 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The study aims to investigate the behavioral and neural responses of a face transplant patient (FTP) to his pre-operative and post-operative faces. For this purpose, a control group (N=15) and a single FTP were presented images of their past face, present face, and other unfamiliar faces and asked to identify whether these faces belonged to them or not. During the task, electrophysiological and behavioral responses were recorded. The FTP exhibited higher N170 amplitudes for his past face compared to the control group, suggesting increased visual processing due to its distinctiveness. N250 latency was shorter for his past face, indicating a profoundly ingrained self-identity. P300 amplitudes to his present face were significantly higher, potentially reflecting cognitive adaptation to his transplanted identity. Behaviorally, the control group identified their past faces more quickly, whereas the FTP demonstrated delayed and less accurate recognition of both his past and present faces. This study presents the first ERP-based comparison of an FTP with a control group, highlighting the dynamic nature of self-face perception and neural plasticity. The findings suggest that self-face identity is a flexible process influenced by past experiences and adaptation mechanisms, offering important implications for rehabilitation and psychological support in face transplantation cases. Biological sciences/Psychology/Human behaviour Biological sciences/Neuroscience/Cognitive neuroscience Biological sciences/Neuroscience/Social neuroscience/Agency face transplantation self-face recognition event-related potentials neural plasticity Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 13 Oct, 2025 Read the published version in Scientific Reports → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 20 Jun, 2025 Reviews received at journal 18 Jun, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 06 Jun, 2025 Reviews received at journal 03 Jun, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 23 May, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 23 May, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 23 May, 2025 Editor invited by journal 19 May, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 18 May, 2025 First submitted to journal 02 May, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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