Social Situations
Facial Recognition Disorder
Face Blindness - It’s More Common Than You Think
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Prosopagnosia, also known as face blindness, is a cognitive disorder that is characterized by the inability to recognize the faces of familiar people, or the struggle to interpret facial expressions and cues. The image above is a computer-enhanced fMRI scan showing the increased blood flow in the visual cortex area of a person who has been asked to look at faces.
According to the WebMD website, “Most people with prosopagnosia are born with it. They’ll continue to have the condition throughout most or all of their lives. It can greatly affect your daily schedule. In severe cases, you may not be able to quickly recognize your family members, close friends, or partner.” There currently is no known cure for the disorder.
Facial recognition cases can range from mild to severe, making it a real challenge for many people who live with this disorder. The more severe cases can affect your family life or your ability to hold a job; and may cause an individual to completely withdraw from society, staying home to eliminate the potential for embarrassment or humiliation.
