Prosopometamorphopsia: Learn the Healthy Tips for Managing This Rare Condition

The Rare Condition of Prosopometamorphopsia

In 2007 , Jason Werbeloff , a twenty - two - year - old graduate student in Johannesburg , South Africa , spent months in bed with a severe case of mononucleosis . After recovering , Werbeloff noticed unsettling changes in everyone he looked at , seeing their faces morph into strange configurations . He was eventually diagnosed with prosopometamorphopsia , or PMO , a rare and largely unexplained condition that distorts the perception of faces . Duchaine , a professor of psychological and brain sciences at Dartmouth College , is studying PMO and trying to understand why these distortions occur.

During a Zoom call in May 2021 , Duchaine identified Werbeloff 's condition and conducted tests to further explore PMO . Werbeloff 's experience with PMO led him to realize the impact it had on his personal relationships . He spoke about how his ability to recognize faces was affected , causing faces to change before his eyes , leading to a loss of connection with those he cared about.

Blom , a neurologist in the Netherlands , has been studying PMO and has identified historical cases of patients experiencing similar symptoms . He emphasizes that PMO is different from hallucinations and is not related to psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia . Blom believes that PMO could be categorized under Alice in Wonderland syndrome , a collection of neurological symptoms that distort a person 's perception of their body and the world around them.

In another research study , António Mello , a PhD student at Dartmouth College , provided visuals of how people with PMO see faces . The condition affects just 81 people worldwide , making it a rare and terrifying experience for those who live with it . Victor Sharrah , a man from Nashville , shared his experience with PMO , describing how he woke up one day to find his surroundings distorted and faces appearing like creatures in a horror movie.

Despite the rarity of PMO , it has a significant impact on those affected , often leading to misdiagnosis and misunderstandings . Duchaine and Blom continue their research to better understand and alleviate the symptoms of PMO , offering hope to those who struggle with distorted perceptions of faces . The study of PMO provides valuable insights into facial recognition and the complex workings of the human brain.