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Researchers from Harvard University (USA) conducted a large-scale study involving 3,100 American adults aged 18 to 55. The results of the recognition experiments they participated in surprised the scientists.
Facial blindness, or prosopagnosia, is a cognitive disorder in which a person fails to recognize familiar faces. However, this impairment in visual memory does not affect the ability to recognize objects.
Previously, scientists believed that facial blindness affected about two percent of the global population. According to new data from the researchers, the number of affected individuals is higher.
Approximately 10 million Americans May Suffer from Prosopagnosia
When looking at a familiar face, the brain needs less than half a second to match the eyes, nose, mouth, and chin to recognize the person.
This feature of our visual memory is a common experience for most of us. However, not everyone can boast of this ability.
Some individuals struggle throughout their lives with a mysterious condition known as prosopagnosia, where familiar faces appear unfamiliar. In contrast, strangers may have painfully familiar faces.
As more people began to admit their struggles with this condition on social media, American scientists decided to investigate how many individuals live with this cognitive disorder.
More than half of those who claim to have this condition do not meet the strict diagnostic criteria. Such cases are considered mild. The researchers examined these cases with particular scrutiny in their new study.
Through testing volunteers on face recognition, the researchers concluded that facial blindness affects over three percent of the cohort (specifically, 3.3% – ed.). This group included 31 individuals with pronounced prosopagnosia and 72 individuals with mild prosopagnosia, as reported by Science Alert. This means that around 10 million Americans may be affected by facial blindness.
The researchers believe that those studying this cognitive disorder should now pay more attention to patients with mild forms of facial blindness, rather than solely focusing on those with severe manifestations of prosopagnosia, as has been the case in the past. As a result, individuals identified with mild forms of the condition will be able to more quickly and effectively address the negative impact of facial blindness on their daily lives. Specifically, as noted by psychiatrist Joseph DeGutis from Harvard Medical School, they will seek help from specialists in a timely manner. Thus, they will not be left to face their problem alone, which they previously tried to ignore.
Now, the research team aims to discover how individuals with mild forms of the disorder can reduce the symptoms through training and cognitive therapy. The results of the study were published in the journal Cortex.ScienceDirect.
