Face recognition requires comparing the current visual input with stored mental representations of faces. Based on its role in visual recognition of faces and mental representation of the body, we hypothesized that the right temporo-parietal junction (rTPJ) could be implicated also in processing mental representation of faces. To test this hypothesis, we asked 30 neurotypical participants to perform mental rotation (laterality judgment of rotated pictures) of self- and other-face images, before and after the inhibition of rTPJ through repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation. After inhibition of rTPJ the mental rotation of self-face was slower than other-face. In the control condition the mental rotation of self/other faces was not significantly different. This supports that the role of rTPJ extends to mental representation of faces, specifically for the self. Since the experimental task did not require to explicitly recognize identity, we propose that unconscious identity attribution affects also the mental representation of faces. The present study offers insights on the involvement rTPJ in mental representation of faces and proposes that the neural substrate dedicated to mental representation of faces goes beyond the traditional visual and memory areas.

面部识别需要将当前的视觉输入与存储的面部心理表征进行比较。基于其在面部的视觉识别和身体的心理表征中的作用，我们假设正确的颞顶顶交界处（rTPJ）也可能与面部的心理表征相关。为了验证这一假设，我们要求30名神经性典型参与者在通过反复经颅磁刺激抑制rTPJ之前和之后对自己和其他面孔的图像进行心理旋转（旋转图像的侧向判断）。抑制rTPJ后，自我面孔的心理旋转速度比其他面孔慢。在对照条件下，自我/其他面孔的心理旋转没有显着差异。这支持rTPJ的作用扩展到面部的心理表征，专为自我。由于实验任务不需要明确地识别身份，因此我们建议无意识的身份归因也会影响面部的心理表征。本研究提供了关于rTPJ参与面部心理表征的见解，并提出致力于面部心理表征的神经基质超越了传统的视觉和记忆领域。