Abnormalities in the Visual Processing of Viewing Complex Visual Stimuli Amongst Individuals With Body Image Concern

Abstract

Individuals with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and clinically concerning body-image concern (BIC) appear to possess abnormalities in the way they perceive visual information in the form of a bias towards local visual processing. As inversion interrupts normal global processing, forcing individuals to process locally, an upright-inverted stimulus discrimination task was used to investigate this phenomenon. We examined whether individuals with nonclinical, yet high levels of BIC would show signs of this bias, in the form of reduced inversion effects (i.e., increased local processing). Furthermore, we assessed whether this bias appeared for general visual stimuli or specifically for appearance-related stimuli, such as faces and bodies. Participants with high-BIC (n = 25) and low-BIC (n = 30) performed a stimulus discrimination task with upright and inverted faces, scenes, objects, and bodies. Unexpectedly, the high-BIC group showed an increased inversion effect compared to the low-BIC group, indicating perceptual abnormalities may not be present as local processing biases, as originally thought. There was no significant difference in performance across stimulus types, signifying that any visual processing abnormalities may be general rather than appearance-based. This has important implications for whether visual processing abnormalities are predisposing factors for BDD or develop throughout the disorder.

Parameters of visual processing abnormalities in adults with body image concerns

“…Consistent with previous similar studies [ 6 , 37 ], the dimensions for all images on screen were 15 X 12 degrees of visual angle (height x width). The behavioral task ran on an IBM compatible PC and the software Presentation [ 46 ] was used to present stimuli and record reaction time (RT) and accuracy for discrimination between pairs of stimuli.…”

“…Conversely, some research [ 37 – 38 ] has challenged the presence of a local processing bias in those with BDD and/or high BIC. For example, Monzani [ 38 ] used a number of measures, including the face inversion task, to demonstrate that visual processing of those with BDD did not differ from healthy controls.…”

“…Pairs of stimuli were presented, either upright or inverted, for a short duration of 250ms followed by a gap of 1000ms. Duncum [ 37 ] also found no perceptual deviation in those with high BIC, measured via an inversion task. Similarly, this study also consisted of an initial short presentation time of 500ms.…”

“…In order to clarify the point in the visual sequence that the potential processing bias manifests, future research should focus on exploring this bias at specific stimuli exposure durations. Whilst research has established that this bias may not exist at stimuli durations of 500ms [ 37 ], it has been shown at durations of 650ms [ 6 ]. Thus, it is likely that the bias may manifest between this timeframe of 500-650ms of stimuli exposure.…”

Body Size Judgments at 17 ms: Evidence From Perceptual and Attitudinal Body Image Indexes

“…Results showed that in addition to impairment of facial recognition, this sample also presented impairment in the recognition of faceless body silhouette stimuli. Similarly, Duncum et al (2016) presented body stimuli, objects and scenes for 500 ms to a group of body image concern participants. The set of stimuli were randomly presented in regular and inverted orientation.…”