When Familiar Faces Seem Unknown: Face Blindness

Abstract

Think about the people in your life whose faces you could pick out in a crowd. It might surprise you to learn that some people are unable to recognize faces—even the faces of people they see often like their friends, family, and teachers. This happens with a condition called prosopagnosia, which is also known as face blindness. Prosopagnosia affects one’s ability to understand facial expressions, judge someone’s age or gender, and follow where people are looking. The fusiform face area (FFA) is a part of the brain that is responsible for facial recognition. When the FFA is underdeveloped or becomes damaged, it can lead to prosopagnosia. Currently, there is no treatment for prosopagnosia, but people affected by this condition can practice relying on other cues like sounds and smells to help them recognize others. Researchers are looking into treatment options for people with prosopagnosia.