Abstract
BackgroundBody dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is characterized by an excessive preoccupation with one or more perceived flaws in one’s own appearance. Previous studies provided evidence for deficits in configural and holistic processing in BDD. Preliminary evidence suggests abnormalities at an early stage of visual processing. The present study is the first examining early neurocognitive perception of the own face in BDD by using electroencephalography (EEG). We investigated the face inversion effect, in which inverted (upside-down) faces are disproportionately poorly processed compared to upright faces. This effect reflects a disruption of configural and holistic processing, and in consequence a preponderance of featural face processing.MethodsWe recorded face-sensitive event-related potentials (ERPs) in 16 BDD patients and 16 healthy controls, all unmedicated. Participants viewed upright and inverted (upside-down) images of their own face and an unfamiliar other face, each in two facial emotional expressions (neutral vs. smiling). We calculated the early ERP components P100, N170, P200, N250, and the late positive component (LPC), and compared amplitudes among both groups.ResultsIn the early P100, no face inversion effects were found in both groups. In the N170, both groups exhibited the common face inversion effects, with significantly larger N170 amplitudes for inverted than upright faces. In the P200, both groups exhibited larger inversion effects to other (relative to own) faces, with larger P200 amplitudes for other upright than inverted faces. In the N250, no significant group differences were found in face processing. In the LPC, both groups exhibited larger inversion effects to other (relative to own) faces, with larger LPC amplitudes for other inverted than upright faces. These overall patterns appeared to be comparable for both groups. Smaller inversion effects to own (relative to other) faces were observed in none of these components in BDD, relative to controls.ConclusionsThe findings suggest no evidence for abnormalities at all levels of early face processing in our observed sample of BDD patients. Further research should investigate the neural substrates underlying BDD symptomatology.
Highlights
A large body of research supports that faces are processed holistically in healthy humans [1, 2]
Given that the Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)-YBOCS was developed for clinical samples of BDD patients [52], the measure was administered to BDD participants only
BDD and healthy controls did not differ in mean age or educational level
Summary
A large body of research supports that faces are processed holistically in healthy humans [1, 2]. Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is characterized by an excessive preoccupation with perceived defect(s) or flaws in one’s own physical appearance which are not observable or appear slight to others [5]. This preoccupation often pertains to the own face in particular. Individuals with BDD focus on details in the appearance of their skin, hair, or other facial parts [6] They believe that these features are disfigured or ugly and often have delusional beliefs [7]. Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is characterized by an excessive preoccupation with one or more perceived flaws in one’s own appearance. This effect reflects a disruption of configural and holistic processing, and in consequence a preponderance of featural face processing
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