When was the first published case of prosopagnosia, or face blindness?
Quick Answer
Descriptions of face blindness appeared in the 19th century, but it was clearly defined in the 1940s by German neurologist Joachim Bodamer. His paper was published in 1947.
The Full Story
Prosopagnosia, or face blindness, was clearly defined in a 1947 paper by German neurologist Joachim Bodamer. Earlier descriptions of face-recognition problems existed, but Bodamer’s work helped establish the condition as a distinct neurological disorder. People with prosopagnosia may recognize objects, voices, or other cues but struggle to identify familiar faces. The condition became important in studies of the brain systems involved in visual perception and memory.
Key Facts
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"How the brain can lose the ability to recognize faces"
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