Why are faces on flat screens normal for Victor Sharrah?

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Victor Sharrah's Unique Experience with Flat Screen Faces in Prosopometamorphopsia

Victor Sharrah is unique among individuals with prosopometamorphopsia (PMO) because faces displayed on flat screens appear normal to him, a characteristic that has proven crucial for researchers. This distinction allows for the creation of photo-realistic images depicting PMO distortions by comparing the perceived reality on a screen with the distorted perception of real-life faces, a comparison not possible for most other PMO sufferers whose flat-screen images are also distorted.
A Distinctive Perceptual Anomaly

While most individuals experiencing PMO perceive distortions in faces regardless of the medium, Sharrah's condition presents a notable exception. For him, the faces viewed on a computer monitor or similar flat display are perceived without the alarming alterations that characterize his experience of real-life interactions. This specific aspect of his perception has been pivotal in advancing the understanding and visual representation of PMO.
Enabling Photo-Realistic Imaging

The ability of Sharrah to see normal faces on flat screens has enabled researchers, including those at Dartmouth College, to generate the first photo-realistic images that represent how PMO affects facial perception. This was achieved by having Sharrah directly compare the distorted faces he observed in real life with the normal-appearing faces presented on a digital screen, providing a direct visual reference for researchers.
Differentiating from Other PMO Cases

In the majority of reported PMO cases, faces depicted in photographs or on screens are also subject to the same distortions as real-life faces. This shared distortion makes it challenging, if not impossible, for other patients to provide the kind of comparative feedback that Sharrah's unique perception allows, thereby limiting their utility in creating visual representations of the condition.
Underlying Mechanisms Remain Unexplained

Despite Sharrah's unique presentation, the precise neurological or perceptual reasons behind why flat-screen faces appear normal to him, while real-life faces are distorted, are not yet fully understood. While PMO is understood to be a symptom with potentially multiple causes, and Sharrah does have a brain lesion, current medical understanding does not directly link this lesion to his specific experience with 2D versus 3D facial perception.

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Why are faces on flat screens normal for Victor Sharrah?

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