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Kirsch L, Evans TC, Fry R, Campbell A, DeGutis J. Social Interaction Anxiety in Developmental Prosopagnosia: Prevalence, Severity, and Individual Differences. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2024:acae074. [PMID: 39348824 DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acae074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 09/06/2024] [Indexed: 10/02/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Although elevated social anxiety in developmental prosopagnosia (DP) has been reported in anecdotal and qualitative studies, the current study sought to better quantify the prevalence, severity, and moderators of social anxiety in a large DP sample. METHOD A total of 88 DPs and 58 controls completed the validated Social Interaction Anxiety Scale and assessments of face recognition, autism traits, personality (Big Five Inventory), and coping strategies. RESULTS DPs reported greater social anxiety symptoms (M = 30.25) than controls (M = 17.19), with 44% of DPs above a probable clinical cutoff compared with 14% of controls. Exploratory analyses revealed that DPs' social anxiety was more specific to items pertaining to mixing socially or interacting with unfamiliar people. Notably, several DPs reported minimal social anxiety, which was associated with being more extraverted and having fewer autism traits. A follow-up survey revealed that extraverted DPs more openly disclosed face recognition inabilities than introverted DPs, which may be a factor in their reduced social anxiety. CONCLUSION These results better quantify the potential serious psychosocial consequences of DP and highlight the importance of individual differences as well as targeted intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah Kirsch
- Boston Attention and Learning Laboratory, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA, USA
| | - Travis C Evans
- Boston Attention and Learning Laboratory, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
| | - Regan Fry
- Boston Attention and Learning Laboratory, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA, USA
| | - Alison Campbell
- Boston Attention and Learning Laboratory, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
| | - Joseph DeGutis
- Boston Attention and Learning Laboratory, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA, USA
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Jin F, Hsu SM, Li Y. A Systematic Review of Aphantasia: Concept, Measurement, Neural Basis, and Theory Development. Vision (Basel) 2024; 8:56. [PMID: 39330760 PMCID: PMC11437436 DOI: 10.3390/vision8030056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2024] [Revised: 09/11/2024] [Accepted: 09/18/2024] [Indexed: 09/28/2024] Open
Abstract
People with aphantasia exhibit the inability to voluntarily generate or form mental imagery in their minds. Since the term "aphantasia" was proposed to describe this, it has gained increasing attention from psychiatrists, neuroscientists, and clinicians. Previous studies have mainly focused on the definition, prevalence, and measurement of aphantasia, its impacts on individuals' cognitive and emotional processing, and theoretical frameworks synthesizing existing findings, which have contributed greatly to our understanding of aphantasia. However, there are still some debates regarding the conclusions derived from existing research and the theories that were constructed from various sources of evidence. Building upon existing endeavors, this systematic review emphasizes that future research is much needed to refine the definition and diagnosis of aphantasia, strengthen empirical investigations at behavioral and neural levels, and, more importantly, develop or update theories. These multiple lines of efforts could lead to a deeper understanding of aphantasia and further guide researchers in future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feiyang Jin
- Applied Psychology Program, Department of Life Sciences, BNU-HKBU United International College, Zhuhai 519087, China
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shen-Mou Hsu
- Imaging Center for Integrated Body, Mind and Culture Research, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Yu Li
- Applied Psychology Program, Department of Life Sciences, BNU-HKBU United International College, Zhuhai 519087, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Interdisciplinary Research and Application for Data Science, BNU-HKBU United International College, Zhuhai 519087, China
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Starrfelt R, Gerlach C, Nørkær E. Mapping and measuring the Mind's Eye - Comment on visual mental imagery: Evidence for a heterarchical neural architecture by Spagna et al. Phys Life Rev 2024; 49:117-118. [PMID: 38615448 DOI: 10.1016/j.plrev.2024.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Randi Starrfelt
- Copenhagen Neuropsychology Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | | | - Erling Nørkær
- Copenhagen Neuropsychology Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
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Nørkær E, Gobbo S, Roald T, Starrfelt R. Disentangling developmental prosopagnosia: A scoping review of terms, tools and topics. Cortex 2024; 176:161-193. [PMID: 38795651 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2024.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
The goal of this preregistered scoping review is to create an overview of the research on developmental prosopagnosia (DP). Through analysis of all empirical studies of DP in adults, we investigate 1) how DP is conceptualized and defined, 2) how individuals are classified with DP and 3) which aspects of DP are investigated in the literature. We reviewed 224 peer-reviewed studies of DP. Our analysis of the literature reveals that while DP is predominantly defined as a lifelong face recognition impairment in the absence of acquired brain injury and intellectual/cognitive problems, there is far from consensus on the specifics of the definition with some studies emphasizing e.g., deficits in face perception, discrimination and/or matching as core characteristics of DP. These differences in DP definitions is further reflected in the vast heterogeneity in classification procedures. Only about half of the included studies explicitly state how they classify individuals with DP, and these studies adopt 40 different assessment tools. The two most frequently studied aspects of DP are the role of holistic processing and the specificity of face processing, and alongside a substantial body of neuroimaging studies of DP, this paints a picture of a research field whose scientific interests and aims are rooted in cognitive neuropsychology and neuroscience. We argue that these roots - alongside the heterogeneity in DP definition and classification - may have limited the scope and interest of DP research unnecessarily, and we point to new avenues of research for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erling Nørkær
- Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Silvia Gobbo
- Department of Psychology, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Italy
| | - Tone Roald
- Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
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Maw KJ, Beattie G, Burns EJ. Cognitive strengths in neurodevelopmental disorders, conditions and differences: A critical review. Neuropsychologia 2024; 197:108850. [PMID: 38467371 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2024.108850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders are traditionally characterised by a range of associated cognitive impairments in, for example, sensory processing, facial recognition, visual imagery, attention, and coordination. In this critical review, we propose a major reframing, highlighting the variety of unique cognitive strengths that people with neurodevelopmental differences can exhibit. These include enhanced visual perception, strong spatial, auditory, and semantic memory, superior empathy and theory of mind, along with higher levels of divergent thinking. Whilst we acknowledge the heterogeneity of cognitive profiles in neurodevelopmental conditions, we present a more encouraging and affirmative perspective of these groups, contrasting with the predominant, deficit-based position prevalent throughout both cognitive and neuropsychological research. In addition, we provide a theoretical basis and rationale for these cognitive strengths, arguing for the critical role of hereditability, behavioural adaptation, neuronal-recycling, and we draw on psychopharmacological and social explanations. We present a table of potential strengths across conditions and invite researchers to systematically investigate these in their future work. This should help reduce the stigma around neurodiversity, instead promoting greater social inclusion and significant societal benefits.
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Epihova G, Astle DE. What is developmental about developmental prosopagnosia? Cortex 2024; 173:333-338. [PMID: 38460488 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2024.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
Developmental prosopagnosia (DP) is characterised by difficulties recognising face identities and is associated with diverse co-occurring object recognition difficulties. The high co-occurrence rate and heterogeneity of associated difficulties in DP is an intrinsic feature of developmental conditions, where co-occurrence of difficulties is the rule, rather than the exception. However, despite its name, cognitive and neural theories of DP rarely consider the developmental context in which these difficulties occur. This leaves a large gap in our understanding of how DP emerges in light of the developmental trajectory of face recognition. Here, we argue that progress in the field requires re-considering the developmental origins of differences in face recognition abilities, rather than studying the end-state alone. In practice, considering development in DP necessitates a re-evaluation of current approaches in recruitment, design, and analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Epihova
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Duncan E Astle
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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Baulina M, Kosonogov V. "Calculating faces": can face perception paradigms enrich dyscalculia research? Front Psychol 2024; 14:1218124. [PMID: 38235284 PMCID: PMC10791763 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1218124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Developmental dyscalculia (DD) is a subtype of learning disabilities, which is characterized by lower mathematical skills despite average intelligence and average or satisfactory performance in other academic areas. It is not fully understood how such deficits emerge in the course of brain development. When considering the mechanisms of dyscalculia, two domain-specific systems are distinguished. The Approximate Number System (ANS) is related to the approximate estimation of large sets, and the Object Tracking System (OTS) is responsible for subitizing, that is, the exact quantification of small sets. In recent years, the multiple-deficit framework has become increasingly popular. On the one hand, it explains the impairment of certain general cognitive functions in children with DD, such as executive functions, attention, visual-perceptual discrimination, processing speed, and rapid scanning of visual information. On the other hand, it provides a theoretical basis for explaining the simultaneous occurrence of the different types of other comorbid conditions (such as dyslexia and ADHD) and the relationship between them. We suggest that the face recognition could be considered as another, probably impaired function in dyscalculic individuals. We highlight several brain areas involved both in numerical and facial processing: intraparietal sulcus (IPS), fusiform gyrus (FFG), and hippocampus (HC). We consider the possibility of expanding the scope of dyscalculia research by application of face perception paradigms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Baulina
- Laboratory of Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy, Federal Scientific Center of Psychological and Multidisciplinary Research, Moscow, Russia
- International Laboratory of Social Neurobiology, HSE University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir Kosonogov
- International Laboratory of Social Neurobiology, HSE University, Moscow, Russia
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