Hidden Brain Do I Know You? (A Hidden Brain-Revisionist History special on facial recognition)
May 26, 2025
Lucy Sullivan, a producer for Revisionist History, joins a discussion on the layered complexities of facial recognition. They delve into the struggles of face blindness, showcasing personal anecdotes that highlight its social implications. Lucy's exceptional skills contrast with those who grapple with recognition challenges, including host Malcolm Gladwell. The conversation also touches on the amusing and awkward moments in social settings, emphasizing the emotional weight of our relational connections. It’s a compelling exploration of how we perceive faces and the profound effects on our interactions.
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Alison Young's Super Recognizer Role
- Alison Young, a London police officer, excelled in facial recognition and joined the Super Recognizer Unit.
- She used her skills to identify a predatory man on a bus using grainy security footage and caught him in person.
People Are Poor at Matching Faces
- People, including professionals like TSA and passport officers, are generally poor at matching faces to photos.
- Familiarity drastically improves recognition, but we overestimate our general face-matching skills.
Julie Dorschlack's Face Blindness
- Julie Dorschlack struggles with face blindness, often causing social awkwardness and misunderstanding.
- Her husband Marty, a super recognizer, remembers faces effortlessly, sometimes highlighting Julie's challenges.