The human visual system is a dominant part of the brain’s processes and navigation of the world. To better understand an aspect of this system, researchers from Drexel University’s College of Nursing and Health Professions examined how life experiences impact a person’s perception of imagery – specifically decorated masks.

The study, published in Frontiers in Psychology, examined viewer responses to images of distressing and neutrally decorated masks and whether personal life history, particularly past experiences of trauma and difficulty, affected how the person perceived the imagery.

The research team, led by Girija Kaimal, EdD, an associate professor, and Asli Arslanbek-Evci, a recent doctoral graduate, both from the College of Nursing and Health Professions, found that traumatic life events do impact the perception of trauma-related imagery, and that neutral imagery overall evoked less of an emotional response in viewers than the imagery depicting moral, psychological or physical injuries.

“This shows the important associations between personal experiences of trauma and how we respond to visual imagery,” said Kaimal.

“It’s important for health care providers and caregivers to be aware of the vulnerabilities and sensitivities to visual imagery for individuals with a history of experiencing or witnessing trauma. Further, researchers may incorporate these methods to better understand differences in brain function and structure associated with traumatic experiences,” said John Williamson, PhD, co-author of the paper and an associate professor from the University of Florida.

Kaimal added that in addition to the practical implications for improving therapeutic practices and supporting trauma recovery, the study highlights our collective sensitivities as a society to the impact of viewing distressing images.

The research team found that responses to mask image content (traumatic versus neutral) were associated with viewers’ personal history of adversity and trauma. Specifically, images representing injury/trauma provoked stronger reactions on positive/negative emotional responses (valence) and arousal scales than neutral images.

“We found imagery with intense emotional content including distress and pain were more likely to evoke heightened emotion and a sense of personal relevance for individuals who have experienced adversities and trauma in their life,” said Arslanbek-Evci. “This does not necessarily indicate negative consequences of viewing distressing content. Instead, it may suggest that people connect with imagery in different ways. For individuals who have experienced trauma, they might find both emotional activation and resonance (a sense of personal connection) with graphic images depicting distress.”