‘I’d keep it on the down low’: the secret life of a super-recogniser
Police employ them and scientists study them, but what is life like for the rare few who can never forget a face? Super-recogniser Yenny Seo didn’t think it was anything special
I have a photogenic memory: it looks good until question time.
In the 'bad' old days the priest of our church would walk down the aisle and shake people's hand and call them by name. When he came to someone he didn't know he would ask their name and remember it. Everyone was always amazed.
My late partner, a super extrovert, was also like this. To this day I am constantly meeting people that know me but I cannot remember them.
. . . take the test :
The link (agreement button) doesn't seem to work.
@Organist1 . . . happened to me too
. . . I then searched (in the page) for the word 'consent'
. . . In the "Consent Form" section (near the end), click on the box :
"I have read and understood the Information and Consent details above"
. . . enjoy
@FearlessFly Thanks!
The opposite of a "super-recognizer" is often someone with aphantasia.
This is the lack of the ability to create mental imagery. It tends to have a significant impact on the ability to recall faces until that face is extremely well known.
My son has prosopagnosia, the inability to recognize faces. He's on the autism spectrum. I have topographic agnosia, so everything looks similar to me. It's hard to get around, and a GPS is a must.