ESPE Abstracts

Background: Face processing is considered the most highly developed visual perception ability, with research indicating differences between genders. Gender incongruence (GI) refers to person’s experience of an incompatibility between gender identity and birth-assigned sex. Differences of sex development (DSD) encompass rare congenital conditions, in which chromosomal, gonadal or phenotypic development is atypical. The study aimed to investigate face processing patterns in individuals with GI or DSD using eye-tracking technology.

Methods: We conducted an eye-tracking study using iMotions software, involving 15 individuals with GI (transgender men) and 20 individuals with DSD conditions (14 with classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and 6 with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS), all assigned female at birth). Participants were presented a series of 10 face stimuli (5 females and 5 males) across 3 tasks (free viewing, sex discrimination, and rating attractiveness), and areas of interest (AOIs) were defined for internal (iAOI) and external (eAOI) facial features. Standard visual scanning parameters were assessed. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed for each study group compered to control groups (39 females, 27 males) using IBM SPSS software.

Results: Significant differences were observed between groups, particularly in scanning iAOIs. Individuals with GI exhibited distinct facial processing patterns compared to the female control group, characterized by a longer time to first fixation (TTFF), shorter gaze duration, shorter fixations' duration, and a smaller number of fixations (P < 0.05). This pattern was more pronounced during sex discrimination task. Those with CAH also displayed differing facial processing patterns compared to the female control group, with shorter gaze duration and fixations' duration, and a reduced number of fixations (P < 0.001). Individuals with CAH differed also from the male control group in gaze time and fixations' duration (P < 0.05). This pattern was less pronounced during sex discrimination task.

Conclusions: This eye-tracking study enabled to identify differences in face processing among individuals with GI or DSD. The face processing pattern observed in transgender men resembled that of male control group. Individuals with CAH, while differing from the female control group, exhibited differences from both control groups, indicating a unique pattern. Further research involving larger cohorts is necessary to delve deeper into these.