Understanding facial features

Have you ever looked at someone and thought, I can’t remember that person’s name, but I know that face? Not remembering someone’s name is not uncommon. Researchers explain that one of the reasons you remember someone’s face and not their name is because the face is comprised of multiple details, many of which you commit to memory. However, someone’s name doesn’t have any real connection to the individual, which makes it difficult to remember. Why you might remember their face is because the brain has a remarkable ability to remember faces.

Let’s step through what happens when you see someone’s face.

Seeing someone’s face

When you look at a face, as opposed to looking at an inanimate object, a number of different processes occur in the brain. We immediately begin scanning the face to examine the eyes, mouth, and nose. In addition to examining the features, we are processing what possible...