Brain in a Vat

Facial Distortions and Prosopometamorphopsia | Brad Duchaine

Mar 3, 2024

Discusses prosopometamorphopsia, seeing distorted faces like demons or dragons. Delves into neurological basis, impact on social interactions, and management techniques. Explores differences from prosopagnosia. Touches on AI, hallucinations, and diagnosis of facial recognition disorders.

01:01:22

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Episode guests

Brad Duchaine

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Quick takeaways

PMO can lead to intense distortions in facial perception, making faces appear demonic or otherworldly.

Individuals with PMO may see a wide range of distortions in facial features, from dragons to texture distortions.

PMO involves active facial distortions, unlike prosopagnosia where individuals struggle with facial recognition.

Structural and functional brain differences are observed in individuals with prosopagnosia or PMO, affecting face processing abilities.

Coping strategies like colored glasses can help mitigate distortions in PMO, enhancing individuals' quality of life.

Deep dives

Impact of Face Distortions on Visual Perception

People experiencing face distortions in Prosopo Metamorphopsia (PMO) may see intense distortions in facial features that make faces appear demonic or otherworldly. These distortions can lead to a dissociation where faces in daily interactions appear distorted, while faces on screens or TV look normal. The case study of a man encountering demon-like faces in real life reveals the nuanced nature of PMO, wherein each encountered face is perceived with intense distortion.

Introduction

3min

Understanding Prosopometamorphopsia and Prosopagnosia

14min

Hallucinatory Effects of Prosopometamorphopsia (PMO)

8min

Diagnosing Facial Distortions and Prosopometamorphopsia

2min

Navigating Face Recognition Challenges

22min

Exploring the Link Between Aphasia and Conceptual Thinking

1min

Exploring Face Recognition Abilities and Brain Response

12min

In this special episode of Brain in a Vat, Brad Duchaine from the Psychological and Brain Sciences Department at Dartmouth discusses prosopometamorphopsia (PMO) – a condition where individuals see distorted faces.

The episode explores various manifestations of PMO, including seeing demonic features, dragons, or entirely different faces, and distinguishes it from prosopagnosia (face blindness). It delves into the neurological basis of PMO, touching upon structural and functional differences in the brains of those affected.

We discuss the significant impact PMO and prosopagnosia have on individuals' social interactions and quality of life, as well as potential management techniques such as using glasses or colored lights to reduce distortions.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Presentation

00:20 Exploring the Case of Face Distortion

03:19 Understanding the Nature of Distortions

05:49 Comparing Prosopagnosia and PMO

07:17 The Role of Visual System in Face Recognition

10:01 Impact of Face Recognition on Social Interactions

14:16 The Spectrum of Face Recognition Abilities

16:20 The Role of AI and Hallucinations in Face Recognition

23:48 Understanding the Diagnosis of Face Recognition Disorders

30:20 Understanding Prosopagnosia: Prevalence and Characteristics

31:59 The Mystery of PMO: Prevalence and Need for More Research

32:46 Exploring the Impact of Prosopagnosia and PMO on Social and Sexual Relationships

33:23 The Intersection of PMO and Other Psychiatric Conditions

37:03 The Struggles and Challenges of Living with Prosopagnosia and PMO

41:02 Potential Treatments and Coping Mechanisms for PMO

51:22 The Neurological Basis of PMO and Prosopagnosia

54:51 Testing and Characterizing PMO: A Deep Dive into Research Methods

59:54 Understanding the Perception and Processing of Faces in PMO

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Brain in a Vat

Facial Distortions and Prosopometamorphopsia | Brad Duchaine

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Impact of Face Distortions on Visual Perception

Variety and Nature of Distortions in PMO

Distinguishing Between PMO and Prosopagnosia

Neural Basis of PMO and Prosopagnosia

Coping Strategies and Visual Interventions for PMO

Facing Social and Emotional Challenges with PMO

Potential Treatment and Future Research Directions for PMO

Insights from PMO on Visual Perception

The Intersection of Cognitive and Visual Processing in PMO

Challenges and Advancements in Diagnosing and Treating PMO

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts