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Deciding on Optical Illusions: Reduced Alpha Power in Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Anastasios E Giannopoulos1, Ioanna Zioga2,3, Konstantinos Kontoangelos3
1School of Electrical & Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece.
Brain Sciences
|February 25, 2022
Summary
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is linked to altered perception during optical illusions. Reduced alpha power in brain activity may serve as an electroencephalography (EEG) biomarker for BDD severity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Perception Science
Background:
- Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) involves preoccupation with perceived appearance flaws.
- Optical illusions create ambiguous perceptions by distorting visual stimuli.
- Investigating BDD through perception during optical illusions using EEG.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore differences in perception and brain activity between BDD patients and controls using optical illusions.
- To identify potential electroencephalography (EEG) biomarkers for BDD.
Main Methods:
- 18 BDD patients and 18 controls viewed 39 optical illusions.
- Participants reported perception, confidence, and answered questions post-delay.
- Analyzed brain oscillations (EEG) during decision-making using nonparametric cluster statistics.
Main Results:
- BDD group showed reduced confidence with incorrect answers, indicating doubt.
- BDD patients had significantly lower alpha power at fronto-central and parietal areas, suggesting impaired attention.
- Lower alpha power correlated with higher BDD severity.
Conclusions:
- Alpha power during illusory perception may be a quantitative EEG biomarker for BDD.
- This finding suggests impaired inhibition of task-irrelevant brain areas in BDD.
