Prosopagnosia: Face Blindness

Prosopagnosia or Face Blindness: I have it.  I took the test-- a series of on-line tests via faceblind.org / Harvard University.  I did not do well.  I did not even recognize Steven Colbert's face and I watch his show several nights a week.  And have been for several years.

I recognize my own face.  [Some folks have difficulty with their own faces].  And that of my housemate, folks I see regularly if they are standing right in front of me, pictures of people I know.  [Again, some folks have difficulty with all of the above].  If someone tries describing a person to me that they claim that I know-- well, that doesn't work too well at all-- I usually tell them to just assume that I know who they are talking about and carry on with their story.  I cannot pair up some faces with names.  The tests: I did really badly on the tests.  I signed up to be contacted about the research study being done over at Harvard.  

Some faceblindness is the kind that someone might always have had.  Some can be the result of trauma.  I believe mine is a result of my t.b.i.  Some can be the result of strokes or other neuro-events.

I recognize faces by social settings-- doctors in offices for example, by hair styles, by clothing, by skin tone.  Change your hair or your clothes or appear somewhere that I don't normally see you becomes anyone's guess as to whether I will recognize you or not.

I am still processing this latest bit of information.  Perhaps I will have more to say later.

Below are some links, including the links to the tests if anyone is interested.

sapphoq healing t.b.i.


http://www.testmybrain.org/

http://www.faceblind.org/

http://harvardmagazine.com/2012/03/the-traumatized-brain

http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2009/06/the-harvard-test-my-brain-quiz.html

http://drdianehamilton.wordpress.com/2010/09/11/test-your-brain-and-facial-recognition-interesting-and-fun/

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57399118/face-blindness-when-everyone-is-a-stranger/

http://www.radiolab.org/blogs/radiolab-blog/2010/jun/15/strangers-in-the-mirror/

http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/face-blind.htm

http://www.npr.org/2010/11/13/131267727/living-with-face-blindness-who-are-you-again