Facial Distortions and Prosopometamorphopsia | Brad Duchaine

Brain in a Vat

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