Processing of facial configuration in individuals at ultra-high risk for schizophrenia
Received 22 September 2009; received in revised form 4 January 2010; accepted 8 January 2010. published online 05 February 2010.
Abstract
Background
Discrepancies in the ability to recognize faces constitute an important aspect of the impaired social cognitive abilities of patients with schizophrenia. Previous studies have suggested that specific problems with the processing of facial configuration affect the face-recognition deficit in patients with schizophrenia. However, little is known about whether these deficits in face recognition are present before the onset of schizophrenia.
Method
This study compared performances on a face processing task among three groups: individuals at ultra-high risk for schizophrenia (n=20), patients with schizophrenia (n=18), and normal controls (n=20) using a face-discrimination task involving pairs of photographs depicting upright and inverted images with changing features and configurations. Chair stimuli were used as the control task.
Results
The individuals at ultra-high risk for schizophrenia performed more poorly than did normal controls with regard to the processing of facial configuration but not the facial feature and did not differ significantly from the patients with schizophrenia with regard to the processing of facial configuration and upright facial features.
Conclusion
This study suggests that a specific dysfunction in the processing of facial configuration, which has an impact on face recognition, might be present before and deteriorate in patients with schizophrenia. Deficits in face recognition among individuals at risk for psychosis might contribute significantly to the social dysfunction associated with schizophrenia.
aClinical Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Neuroscience Institute, SNU-MRC, Seoul, Republic of Korea
bDepartment of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
cDepartment of Brain & Cogntive Sciences-WCU program, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Corresponding author. Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-no, Chongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 110-744. Tel.: +82 2 2072 2972; fax: +82 2 747 9063.
ABSTRACT