title: The Dress: Transforming a web viral event into a scientific survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Dress picture recently has become a hot topic on the Internet, prompting a debate whether it was black and blue, or white and gold.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate The Dress color perception in both multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, characterized by frequent visual system impairment with ensuing color vision effects, and general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We developed a questionnaire to record demographics, clinical features, and The Dress color perception, posted on general and MS-specific social networks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistically significant differences were observed in The Dress color perception between MS patients (n=103) and general population (n=441). Furthermore, white and gold color perception was positively associated with aging in the general population (p=0.04), whereas negatively associated with progressive course (p=0.03) and longer disease duration (p<0.001) in MS patients, independently from patients' age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Dress black and blue or white and gold perception might be due to aging in the general population, whereas black and blue perception, despite of aging, might suggest a specific effect of the MS burden (i.e. disease duration and progression) on the visual structures specifically involved in the white and gold perception.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moccia
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic and Aging Sciences, Second University of Naples, Piazza Miraglia 2, Naples 80138, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lavorgna
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lanzillo
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Odontostomatology, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Brescia Morra
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic and Aging Sciences, Second University of Naples, Piazza Miraglia 2, Naples 80138, Italy.
authors.forename: Gioacchino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tedeschi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic and Aging Sciences, Second University of Naples, Piazza Miraglia 2, Naples 80138, Italy; Neurological Institute for Diagnosis and Care "Hermitage Capodimonte", Naples, Italy. Electronic address: simona.bonavita@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonavita
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D003020:Clothing / Q000523:psychology; D003118:Color Perception; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012107:Research Design; D060756:Social Networking; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Color; Internet; Multiple sclerosis; Social; The dress