http://mindhacks.com/2008/11/24/not-connecting-with-faces-in-the-street-and-in-the-brain/ Neuroscience and psychology news and views. Fri, 17 May 2013 22:36:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ http://mindhacks.com/2008/11/24/not-connecting-with-faces-in-the-street-and-in-the-brain/#comment-6235 Sun, 30 Nov 2008 01:39:26 +0000 http://mindhacksblog.wordpress.com/2008/11/24/not-connecting-with-faces-in-the-street-and-in-the-brain/#comment-6235 Hi Vaughan,
Been a fan of Mind Hacks since 2005. Absolutely loved that case study from awhile back about the woman who believed she was being sent emails directly to her mind.
I started having problems with facial recognition a few years ago. Nothing major. But it’s still a strange experience, made me worry about what was going on in my brain…
At any rate, I have bipolar disorder but have been stable and on meds for several years (though I had several manic and depressive episodes on and off for about 10 years before achieving stability).
Just googled “bipolar disorder fusiform” -
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T4S-4P53RR2-2&_user=10&_origUdi=B6VM1-4N2DRH6-49&_fmt=high&_coverDate=10%2F15%2F2007&_rdoc=1&_orig=article&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=85f7b1c6cafa85c92396313f9639d6f4
Here are the conclusions to this study:
Conclusions
Patients with BPD lose hippocampal, fusiform and cerebellar gray matter at an accelerated rate compared with healthy control subjects. This tissue loss is associated with deterioration in cognitive function and illness course.
(excerpt from the link above)
That may explain my mild facial recognition difficulties. But as we know mood stabilizers are neuroprotectants… I’m lucky to have found a good doctor and be able to take the right medications.
Awesome website, love the book.

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