Processing of facial configuration in individuals at ultra-high risk for schizophrenia.
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.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Clinical Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Neuroscience Institute, SNU-MRC, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Hee Sun
HS
Kim
Na Young
NY
Shin
Jung-Seok
JS
Choi
Myung Hun
MH
Jung
Joon Hwan
JH
Jang
Do-Hyung
DH
Kang
Jun Soo
JS
Kwon
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D005145:Face; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D055815:Young Adult