Rachel V Thomas

Health and Me

28-Year-Old US Man Sees Cat’s Features On Human Faces After Brain Surgery: What Is Prosopometamorphopsia?

In a bizarre medical case, a 28-year-old US man began seeing his pet cat Luna’s features on human faces after brain surgery. These included almond-shaped eye sockets enlarged pupils and stripes.

If Karl sees Luna first thing in the morning, he continues to see her features on human faces throughout the day, whether in person or online. 

However, if he wakes up looking at a human face, he may see that person’s pupils and eye shape on other people’s faces and even on his cat. 

According to a case report published in the journal Cortex, Karl experiences a form of palinopsia, in which something seen earlier persists or reappears in subsequent perception. In his case, this causes facial distortions known as prosopometamorphopsia (PMO).

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/rare-canine-tooth-found-in-indian-teens-eyelid-what-is-an-ectopic-tooth-article-156353126" data-type="tilCustomLink">Rare Canine Tooth Found In Indian Teen’s Eyelid: What Is An Ectopic Tooth?</a>

Karl, who lives in the northeastern US, has experienced the condition for two years. It began after surgery to remove part of his right temporal lobe to treat an arteriovenous malformation (AVM), an abnormal tangle of blood vessels connecting arteries and veins that can cause bleeding in the brain. 

The right temporal lobe plays an important role in face processing. 

"This case of Karl seeing his cat's features in human faces and vice versa demonstrates that individual features can be pulled from memory and influence our ongoing perception," said lead author Brad Duchaine, professor and chair of psychological and brain sciences and principal investigator of the Social Perception Lab at Dartmouth.

<h2>More Than 250 People Experience Facial Distortions </h2>

Karl is not alone. According to Duchaine's lab, more than 250 people experience facial distortions. Many are mistakenly diagnosed with psychiatric problems. 

"We have heard from people who have been told that they had a psychiatric problem and, in some cases, have even been put on antipsychotics, when they are in fact just having visual problems," Duchaine said. 

Duchaine also cited a 1986 study published in Cortex. It described a woman who saw a poodle sitting on a passenger's lap while riding a bus. She then began seeing the poodle's face on every passenger. The woman had experienced a stroke nine months earlier. 

Unlike that case, Karl sees individual facial features transferred between faces rather than entire faces. 

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/hours-of-sitting-gaming-and-binge-watching-ott-doctors-warn-of-blood-clot-risk-in-young-people-article-156306474" data-type="tilCustomLink">Hours Of Sitting, Gaming And Binge-Watching OTT? Doctors Warn Of Blood Clot Risk In Young People</a>

Duchaine used a large language model to turn a line drawing of Karl’s experience into a photorealistic image. He then worked with Karl to refine the visuals featured in the report. 

AI-generated images can help researchers understand visual distortions and help patients explain their experiences to doctors, friends and family, Duchaine said, adding that he will continue working with Karl to decode more about the condition. 

Prosopometamorphopsia (PMO) is a rare visual condition in which faces or facial features appear distorted due to changes in the brain's face-processing network. The term combines prosopo (Greek for face) and metamorphopsia (perceptual distortion). 

People with PMO may see facial features as: 

<ul><li>Droopy or stretched</li></ul><ul><li>Larger or smaller than normal</li></ul><ul><li>Displaced or out of position</li></ul><ul><li>Distorted in specific parts of the face</li></ul>

<ul><li>Full-face PMO: The entire face appears distorted</li></ul><ul><li>Hemi-PMO: One half of the face appears distorted</li></ul>

Most cases last days or weeks, although some persist for years. Around 75 case reports have so far been published. 

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In a bizarre medical case, a 28-year-old US man began seeing his pet cat Luna’s features on human faces after brain surgery. These included almond-shaped eye sockets enlarged pupils and stripes. If Karl sees Luna first thing in the morning, he continues to see her features on human faces throughout the day, whether in person or online. However, if he wakes up looking at a human face, he may see that person’s pupils and eye shape on other people’s faces and even on his cat. According to a case report published in the journal Cortex, Karl experiences a form of palinopsia, in which something seen earlier persists or reappears in subsequent perception. In his case, this causes facial distortions known as prosopometamorphopsia (PMO). How Did The Condition Begin? Also read: Rare Canine Tooth Found In Indian Teen’s Eyelid: What Is An Ectopic Tooth?Karl, who lives in the northeastern US, has experienced the condition for two years. It began after surgery to remove part of his right temporal lobe to treat an arteriovenous malformation (AVM), an abnormal tangle of blood vessels connecting arteries and veins that can cause bleeding in the brain. The right temporal lobe plays an important role in face processing. "This case of Karl seeing his cat's features in human faces and vice versa demonstrates that individual features can be pulled from memory and influence our ongoing perception," said lead author Brad Duchaine, professor and chair of psychological and brain sciences and principal investigator of the Social Perception Lab at Dartmouth. More Than 250 People Experience Facial Distortions Karl is not alone. According to Duchaine's lab, more than 250 people experience facial distortions. Many are mistakenly diagnosed with psychiatric problems. "We have heard from people who have been told that they had a psychiatric problem and, in some cases, have even been put on antipsychotics, when they are in fact just having visual problems," Duchaine said. Duchaine also cited a 1986 study published in Cortex. It described a woman who saw a poodle sitting on a passenger's lap while riding a bus. She then began seeing the poodle's face on every passenger. The woman had experienced a stroke nine months earlier. Unlike that case, Karl sees individual facial features transferred between faces rather than entire faces. How AI Can Help Also read: Hours Of Sitting, Gaming And Binge-Watching OTT? Doctors Warn Of Blood Clot Risk In Young PeopleDuchaine used a large language model to turn a line drawing of Karl’s experience into a photorealistic image. He then worked with Karl to refine the visuals featured in the report. AI-generated images can help researchers understand visual distortions and help patients explain their experiences to doctors, friends and family, Duchaine said, adding that he will continue working with Karl to decode more about the condition. What Is Prosopometamorphopsia? Prosopometamorphopsia (PMO) is a rare visual condition in which faces or facial features appear distorted due to changes in the brain's face-processing network. The term combines prosopo (Greek for face) and metamorphopsia (perceptual distortion). People with PMO may see facial features as: Droopy or stretchedLarger or smaller than normalDisplaced or out of positionDistorted in specific parts of the faceTwo prominent subtypes are: Full-face PMO: The entire face appears distortedHemi-PMO: One half of the face appears distortedMost cases last days or weeks, although some persist for years. Around 75 case reports have so far been published. 

28-year-old us man sees cat’s features on human faces after brain surgery: what is prosopometamorphopsia?

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