Early monocular enucleation selectively disrupts neural development of face perception in the occipital face area
Krista R Kelly1, Brenda L Gallie2, Jennifer K E Steeves3
1Retina Foundation of the Southwest, Dallas, TX, USA.
Abstract:
Retinoblastoma generally occurs before 5 years of age and often requires enucleation (surgical removal of one eye) of the cancerous eye. We have previously shown using behavioural methods that this disruption in binocular vision during the critical period of visual development results in impaired face perception. In this case series study, we sought to determine the underlying neural correlates of this face perception deficit by examining brain activity in regions of cortex that preferentially respond to visual images of faces and places in 6 adults who had one eye enucleated early in life due to retinoblastoma. A group of 10 binocularly-intact adult controls were recruited for comparison. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was conducted over two separate runs for each participant in one scanning session. Each run consisted of 6 blocks each of face, place, and object images. Region-of-interest analyses were conducted to locate face-preferential [fusiform face area (FFA), occipital face area (OFA)] and place-preferential [parahippocampal place area (PPA), transverse occipital sulcus (TOS)] regions-of-interest. Descriptive statistics are reported. Results. Enucleated adults exhibited reduced functional activation in face-preferential regions (left FFA, right OFA, left OFA), but similar activation within the face-preferential right FFA and the place-preferential regions (bilateral PPA and TOS). Conclusions. These results indicate that early monocular enucleation prevents robust development of late-maturing face processing capabilities and that this disruption is specific to face networks and not to networks supporting other visual image categories.
Insights
Early enucleation due to retinoblastoma impairs face perception development. Brain imaging reveals reduced activation in specific face-processing areas, not affecting place perception networks.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Retinoblastoma often necessitates early eye removal (enucleation), disrupting binocular vision during critical developmental periods.
- Previous research demonstrated that this visual disruption leads to deficits in face perception.
- The neural underpinnings of this face perception impairment remain largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neural correlates of impaired face perception in adults with early-life monocular enucleation due to retinoblastoma.
- To examine brain activity in face- and place-preferential cortical regions using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
Main Methods:
- A case series study involving 6 adults with early monocular enucleation and 10 binocularly-intact controls.
- fMRI scans were conducted during separate runs, each including blocks of face, place, and object images.
- Region-of-interest (ROI) analyses focused on face-preferential areas (FFA, OFA) and place-preferential areas (PPA, TOS).
Main Results:
- Adults with early enucleation showed reduced functional activation in specific face-preferential regions (left FFA, right OFA, left OFA).
- Activation in the right FFA (face-preferential) and bilateral PPA/TOS (place-preferential) was comparable to controls.
- These findings suggest a specific disruption in face processing networks.
Conclusions:
- Early monocular enucleation hinders the development of sophisticated face processing capabilities.
- The observed neural deficits are specific to face-processing networks, sparing those involved in processing other visual categories like places.
- This highlights the critical role of early binocular vision for the maturation of specialized neural systems for face recognition.
More Related Videos
05:29A Highly Reproducible and Straightforward Method to Perform In Vivo Ocular Enucleation in the Mouse after Eye Opening
Published on: October 6, 2014
05:46Author Spotlight: Advancements in Refractive Surgical Correction for Presbyopia and Exploring Postoperative Visual Acuity
Published on: September 20, 2024
Related Concept Videos
01:15Subliminal Perception
01:25Factors Affecting Perception
An illustrative example of a perceptual set is the scenario where an airline pilot told...
01:28Perception
Bottom-up processing begins at the sensory level, where receptors detect external environmental stimuli. These could include the tactile sensation of...
01:21Gestalt Principles of Perception
01:17Auditory Perception
01:23Extrasensory Perception
Precognition involves foreseeing future events, such as predicting an accident before it happens. An example of precognition could be someone dreaming about a specific event, like a car crash, which then occurs...