Professor Tony Lambert Photo: Dean Carruthers
Are you one of those people who can always remember where you've seen someone before? Maybe you can reel off all the previous roles an actor has had in a movie, or you're always the first to pick someone out of an old school photo.
For others, however, identifying familiar faces can be a struggle. At the extreme end, this is known as prosopagnosia, or face blindness.
These people may not recognise those closest to them - or even themselves - while those at the other end of the spectrum, known as 'super recognisers', may find themselves employed for their special skill.
Tony Lambert is a Professor of Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience at Auckland University. He explains to Mihingarangi what scientists have learnt about recognition, memory and the brain.
Photo: 123rf
Listen