Short Wave

The Human Brain Is Hardwired To Recognize Faces. But What If You Can't?


Listen Later

Humans are hardwired to see faces — even in inanimate objects. We have a lima bean-shaped part of our brains dedicated to facial recognition. But this process isn't always straightforward. Science journalist Sadie Dingfelder is one of 10 million Americans who are face blind, or struggle to recognize the faces of people they know. In her new book, Do I Know You? she dives into this, as well as the science of memory and imagination.

Want more episodes on the wonder of the human brain? Email us at [email protected].

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Short WaveBy NPR

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

6,361 ratings


More shows like Short Wave

View all
This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

90,885 Listeners

TED Radio Hour by NPR

TED Radio Hour

21,973 Listeners

Radiolab by WNYC Studios

Radiolab

43,962 Listeners

Freakonomics Radio by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

Freakonomics Radio

32,073 Listeners

Planet Money by NPR

Planet Money

30,782 Listeners

Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Hidden Brain

43,680 Listeners

The NPR Politics Podcast by NPR

The NPR Politics Podcast

25,828 Listeners

Science Vs by Spotify Studios

Science Vs

12,165 Listeners

Science Friday by Science Friday and WNYC Studios

Science Friday

6,423 Listeners

Up First from NPR by NPR

Up First from NPR

56,692 Listeners

The Indicator from Planet Money by NPR

The Indicator from Planet Money

9,551 Listeners

Throughline by NPR

Throughline

16,353 Listeners

Life Kit by NPR

Life Kit

4,777 Listeners

Consider This from NPR by NPR

Consider This from NPR

6,413 Listeners

Unexplainable by Vox

Unexplainable

2,313 Listeners