Spilka, Michael J.Pittman, Daniel J.Bray, Signe L.Goghari, Vina M.2019-09-262019-09-262019-09Spilka, M. J., Pittman, D. J., Bray, S. L., & Goghari, V. M. (2019). Manipulating visual scanpaths during facial emotion perception modulates functional brain activation in schizophrenia patients and controls. "American Psychological Association". 1-40. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/abn0000468http://hdl.handle.net/1880/111079https://doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/43666Individuals with schizophrenia exhibit deficits in facial emotion processing, which have been associated with abnormalities in visual gaze behaviour and functional brain activation. However, the relationship between gaze behaviour and brain activation in schizophrenia remains unexamined. Studies in healthy individuals and other clinical samples indicate a relationship between gaze behaviour and functional activation in brain regions implicated in facial emotion processing deficits in schizophrenia (e.g., fusiform gyrus), prompting the question of whether a similar relationship exists in schizophrenia. This study examined whether manipulating visual scanpaths during facial emotion perception would modulate functional brain activation in a sample of 23 schizophrenia patients and 26 community controls. Participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while viewing pictures of emotional faces. During the typical viewing condition, a fixation cue directed participants’ gaze primarily to the eyes and mouth, whereas during the atypical viewing condition gaze was directed to peripheral features. Both viewing conditions elicited a robust response throughout face-processing regions. Typical viewing led to greater activation in visual association cortex including the right inferior occipital gyrus/occipital face area, whereas atypical viewing elicited greater activation in primary visual cortex and regions involved in attentional control. There were no between-group activation differences in response to faces or interaction between group and gaze manipulation. The results indicate that gaze behaviour modulates functional activation in early face-processing regions in individuals with and without schizophrenia, suggesting that abnormal gaze behaviour in schizophrenia may contribute to activation abnormalities during facial emotion perception.engUnless otherwise indicated, this material is protected by copyright and has been made available with authorization from the copyright owner. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.eye trackingfacial emotion perceptionfMRIOFApsychosisjournal articlehttp://dx.doi.org/10.1037/abn0000468