Modification of Facial emotion observation strategies in demyelinating disease spectrum: an eye-tracking study. (4213)

Objective: Highlighting link between modification of visual exploration strategies to decode emotions, and social behavioral disorders, in patients with demyelinating disease, from early to clinically definite stages. Background: Facial emotions recognition impairment is associated with social behavioral disorders. This type of impairment is observed in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in its clinically definite forms: relapsing-remitting (RRMS), secondarily progressive (SPMS) and primary progressive (PPMS). Our hypothesis is that there is also impairments in Radiologically Isolated (RIS) and Clinically Isolated (CIS) syndromes, linked to an atypical gaze strategy to decode emotions. Design/Methods: Study conducted in the Universitary MS center (Nice, France) and in the Rainier III Gerontologic Center (Monaco). Comparison of eyes movements in emotions recognition task in patients with RIS (n=10), CIS (n=10), RRMS (n=11), SPMS (n=10), PPMS (n=10) and matched controls (n=23). “Reading mind in the eyes” test and pictures from the Ekman faces library are used for facial emotions recognition. Behavior was assessed with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. Eyes movements (number and fixations’ duration) were recorded with the EyeBrain Tracker ® T2. Results: Our study confirms facial emotions recognition difficulties in different MS stages, related to changes in visual exploration strategies. The gaze strategy modification is subtle in early forms (RIS and CIS: neglected eye area), and becomes more marked in progressive stages (with increasing fixation times). These oculomotor behaviors are correlated with social cognition impairment and behavioral disorders. Conclusions: These results encourage the development of social cognition disorders remediation in MS, from RIS stage, focusing on facial emotion recognition strategies. Disclosure: Dr. Polet has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hesse has nothing to disclose. Dr. Joly has nothing to disclose. Dr. Morisot has nothing to disclose. Dr. Cohen has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with Biogen, Roche, Merck, Ad Scientiam.Dr. Kullmann has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lebrun-Frenay has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with Consulting fees, honoraria or scientific committee support: Bayer Schering, Biogen, Genzyme, Merck Serono, Novartis, Teva. Dr. Pesce has nothing to disclose.