The early stage of face detection in patients with major depressive disorder: an ERP study

To investigate whether perceptual processes involved in early stages of face processing are influenced by depressive disorder, the face detection and configural analysis were assessed by recording the N170 component elicited by faces and objects (tables) presented under upright and inverted conditions. The N170 component elicited at occipital-temporal sites by faces was larger and peaked later than that elicited by tables, and inverted faces significantly enhanced and delayed the N170. The N170 in response to faces was enhanced in patients with major depressive disorder and the N170 face effect for upright condition was significantly larger in major depressive disorder patients than that in controls. However, the N170 inversion effect did not differ between two groups. These data indicate that, compared with normal controls, there is abnormal face perception at the early stage of processing faces in major depressive disorder patients but the major depressive disorder patients may have intact configural processing of faces.