Final answer:
The fusiform face area (FFA) in the inferior temporal cortex is more active during facial recognition, with fMRI scans showing increased engagement compared to when recognizing objects. Other brain regions are also active but specialize in different aspects of visual processing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The area of the brain that is more active during facial recognition, but less active during object recognition, is known as the fusiform face area (FFA). This region, located in the inferior temporal cortex, is part of the visual processing system and plays a key role in identifying faces. During facial recognition tasks, fMRI scans show increased activity in the FFA. Conversely, when recognizing objects, activity level in the FFA is reduced, suggesting specialized processing for facial information, distinct from general object recognition.
It's interesting to note that the fusiform face area is just a segment of the brain's complex network that processes visual stimuli. These tasks engage multiple areas across the brain, such as the visual sensory areas, integrating areas, and motor areas responsible for tasks like moving the eyes or pressing a button. An fMRI can display activity in a considerable portion of the brain, dispelling myths like the '10 percent brain use' and revealing substantial activity that can amount to nearly 80 percent of the brain based on tasks such as those described.
In summary, for facial recognition, various regions are active, but the fusiform face area is particularly noteworthy for its increased activity during such tasks, while for general object recognition other areas of the brain, including the pathways involved with object identification and spatial orientation, play a more significant role.