Impaired perceptual processing and conceptual cognition in patients with anxiety disorders: A pilot study with the binocular depth inversion paradigm

The binocular depth inversion test (BDIT) measures a visual illusion in which implausible objects, such as a hollow face, are perceived as normal and convex. This illusion is common and influenced by familiarity, with cognitive factors overriding binocular disparity cues. The internal mechanism balancing top-down and bottom-up perceptual processes appears disturbed in pro-psychotic states. In this pilot study, patients with anxiety disorders scored significantly higher on the BDIT than matched controls, in a range comparable to pro-psychotic conditions. The findings suggest anxiety patients may have abnormalities in central perceptual processing, top-down processing, and reality testing similar to those seen in pro-psychotic conditions.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The binocular depth inversion test (BDIT) measures a common illusion of visual perception whereby implausible objects are seen as normal, e.g., a hollow face is perceived as a normal, convex face. Such inversion is frequent, especially for objects with a high degree of familiarity. Under normal conditions, cognitive factors apparently override the binocular disparity cues of stereopsis. This internal mechanism of "censorship" of perception, which balances "top-down" and "bottom-up" processes of perception to come to a cognitive coherence, which is congruent to previous experience and concepts, appears to be disturbed in (pro-)psychotic states. The BDIT has been shown to be a sensitive measure of impaired higher visual processing and conceptual cognition common to conditions including schizophrenia, cannabinoid-intoxication, and sleep deprivation but not depression. In this pilot study, we tested the performance of patients with anxiety disorders (ICD-10 F40 and F41) compared to matched controls using the BDIT paradigm. Anxiety patients scored significantly higher on the BDIT than controls, in a range comparable to propsychotic conditions. The findings suggest that anxiety patients could have abnormalities in central perceptual processing, top-down processing (conceptual cognition), and reality testing similar to (pro-)psychotic conditions. Implications of these findings are discussed in relation to therapeutic interventions with anxiety disorders.