A recent study conducted by Dartmouth researchers has shed light on the visual distortions experienced by individuals with a rare condition known as prosopometamorphopsia (PMO). This condition causes facial features to appear distorted, affecting shape, size, color, and position.
The study focused on a 58-year-old male with PMO who reported seeing distorted faces that appeared “demonic” in person, but normal on a screen or paper. Researchers were able to modify a photograph of a person’s face based on real-time feedback from the patient to accurately depict his distortions.
The goal of the study was to increase awareness of PMO as a visual system problem rather than a psychiatric disorder. It is hoped that this research will prevent misdiagnosis of PMO as other health conditions, such as schizophrenia, leading to incorrect treatments.
The researchers believe that their findings will help improve understanding and recognition of PMO in the medical community and among the general public. By providing accurate visualizations of the facial distortions experienced by individuals with PMO, this study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on this rare condition.
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