Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40193953›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Face exploration, emotion recognition, and emotional enhancement of memory in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Elisabeth Goettfried, Robert Barket, Ronen Hershman, Margarete Delazer, Michael Auer, Klaus Berek, Philipp Ellmerer, Barbara Seebacher, Harald Hegen, Franziska Di Pauli and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Elisabeth GoettfriedDepartment of Neurology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
Robert BarketDepartment of Neurology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6909-6109
Ronen HershmanInstitute of Psychology, Leopold-Franzens University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
Margarete DelazerDepartment of Neurology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
Michael AuerDepartment of Neurology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
Klaus BerekDepartment of Neurology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2755-2043
Philipp EllmererDepartment of Neurology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
Barbara SeebacherDepartment of Neurology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5699-9077
Harald HegenDepartment of Neurology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
Franziska Di PauliDepartment of Neurology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
Florian DeisenhammerDepartment of Neurology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4541-8841
Laura ZamarianDepartment of Neurology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1640-4179

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRecognizing familiar faces and identifying emotions through facial expressions are essential for social functioning. This study aimed to examine whether people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (PwMS) differ from healthy control individuals (HC) in their performance on different tasks related to facial emotion processing.

methodsIn a cross-sectional controlled study, 30 PwMS and 35 HC completed a baseline neuropsychological evaluation and experimental tasks assessing visual exploration of facial stimuli through eye tracking, facial emotion recognition, and facial memory recognition. The facial stimuli displayed either a neutral expression or an emotion (happiness, fear, or disgust).

resultsPwMS and HC performed comparably in facial emotion recognition. In facial memory recognition, HC were significantly more accurate in recognizing previously seen fearful faces compared to neutral faces (Wilcoxon test, Z = -2.26, P = 0.024), demonstrating emotional enhancement of memory. In contrast, PwMS did not exhibit a memory advantage for fearful faces over neutral faces (P > 0.05). Groups also differed in the eye-tracking task. In all but one condition (disgust), PwMS showed a significantly greater tendency to explore the eye area rather than the mouth area compared to HC.

conclusionsChanges in visual exploration and a lack of emotional enhancement of memory are observed in PwMS, who otherwise demonstrate intact facial emotion recognition. These results suggest altered emotion-cognition interactions in PwMS. Early detection of subtle changes and targeted interventions may help prevent future debilitating impairments in social functioning.

Indexed as

EmotionsFacial ExpressionFacial RecognitionMemoryMultiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-RemittingRecognition, PsychologyAdultCase-Control StudiesCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle Aged

Identifiers

PMID40193953
PMCPMC11975382

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.