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Training Face Recognition in Adults with Prosopagnosia

Award Number: F32EY023479
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/27/2014
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/26/2017

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Training Face Recognition in Adults with Prosopagnosia - DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Prosopagnosia, an inability to recognize faces, is a socially debilitating disorder. Therefore, training programs that investigate the ability to improv face recognition are essential for both treating the disorder and gaining a better understanding of the face recognition system. However, published attempts at training face recognition have been few. The primary goal of this proposal is to create and evaluate a training program based on perceptual learning principles that target the ability of prosopagnosic subjects to perceive facial structure. Our central hypothesis is that this training will improve behavioral and neural responses to faces in prosopagnosia. We will study a relatively large cohort and collect a comprehensive profile for each participant, including behavioral and fMRI data. These data will address our secondary goal, which is to determine the necessary conditions for improvement: that is, which functional types of prosopagnosia improve, and what structures in the brain may be critical for successful training. Specific Aims: The specific aims of the project are to determine the intervention's effect on acquired and developmental prosopagnosic's behavioral response to faces (aims 1 and 3). Furthermore, we hope to evaluate the effect that the intervention has on prosopagnosic's neural response to faces (aims 2 and 4). The accomplishments of these aims will allow us to, for the first time, directly compare acquired and developmental prosopagnosia as well as clarify the functional and structural determinants of benefit from training. Method: Pre-intervention baseline assessments will include measures of face processing and neural activation. Participants will complete approximately 30 minutes of training, 3 times per week. This training will utilize an adaptive staircase method in which participants are gradually exposed to more similar pairs of faces as performance improves. With each phase of the training program, a greater degree of variance in expression and angle of the face will be introduced to increase the possibility that training effects will generalize to novel post-training stimuli and real-world situations. Pre- and post-training assessments will be compared to examine improvements in face processing skill and changes in neural activation. In addition, group data will be compared to age-matched controls. Health Relevance: In addition to advancing our understanding of the cortical face network and the plasticity of this system, the proposed work will provide an online training program for adults with prosopagnosia that will be widely available. Postdoctoral Training program: As part of the training program, the applicant will learn new skills in functional neuroimaging, new approaches and perspectives in neuro-ophthalmology, and will have the opportunity to extensively examine a large cohort of adults with prosopagnosia. *Changes from the first application are indicated in bold.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = -$1,355 )
2021	2016	UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, THE	6190 AGRONOMY RD STE 102	VANCOUVER	BC			CAN	Vision Research	000	3	1/12/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$1,355
														Subtotal = -$1,355

Issue Date FY: 2016 ( Subtotal = $8,850 )
2016	2016	UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA	2329 West Mall	VANCOUVER, B C				CAN	Vision Research	001	3	5/3/2016	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$8,850
														Subtotal = $8,850

Issue Date FY: 2015 ( Subtotal = $7,850 )
2015	2015	UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA	2329 West Mall	VANCOUVER, B C				CAN	Vision Research	001	2	5/14/2015	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$7,850
														Subtotal = $7,850

Issue Date FY: 2014 ( Subtotal = $7,850 )
2014	2014	UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA	2329 West Mall	VANCOUVER, B C				CAN	Vision Research	002	1	5/12/2014	NEW	$7,850
														Subtotal = $7,850

Grand Total All Awards = $23,195

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Training Face Recognition in Adults with Prosopagnosia

Award Number: F32EY023479

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/27/2014

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/26/2017

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