Total Recall: An Average of 5000 Faces can be Recalled by a Human In a Lifetime

Have you ever wondered how many faces can you remember in a lifetime? Well, scientists have found a number. A single human is capable of recognizing an average of 5000 faces in a lifetime. The study, led by researchers from the University of York ////in the UK, suggests that facial recognition abilities equip humans to process thousands of faces that they encounter in the modern world -- from their smartphones to social interactions.

"Our study focused on the number of faces people actually know -- we haven't yet found a limit on how many faces the brain can handle," said Rob Jenkins from the University of York.

Can Retinopathy Predict the Early Onset of Memory Loss?
People who had retinopathies at age 60 may be more likely to develop thinking and memory problems by the time they are 80 than people with healthy eyes, finds a new study.

‘Humans can recall a staggering 5,000 faces from their personal lives, the media, and famous personalities.’

Tweet it Now

"The ability to distinguish different individuals is clearly important--it allows you to keep track of people's behavior over time, and to modify your own behavior accordingly," he added.

For the study, published in the journal Proceedings of The Royal Society B, the team developed a laboratory technique based on a theory called recognition and recall.

The participants spent an hour writing down as many faces from their personal lives as possible -- including people they went to school with, colleagues and family.

Low Sodium Levels Could Affect the Memory Power of Old Adults
Low sodium levels in the blood can be linked to memory deterioration of older adults finds a new study.

They then did the same for famous faces, such as actors, politicians, and other public figures.

The participants found it easy to come up with lots of faces at first, but harder to think of new ones by the end of the hour.

Add A Pinch Of Turmeric to Your Food For Better Memory and Mood
Turmeric, the most commonly used spice contains curcumin that can improve memory in people with early-stage dementia.

The participants were also shown thousands of photographs of famous people and asked which ones they recognized. The researchers required participants to recognize two different photos of each person to ensure consistency.

The results showed that the participants knew between 1,000 and 10,000 faces.

Reproductive History and Verbal Memory Affect Dementia Risk among Women
Pregnancy and reproductive history may impact dementia risk among women, research at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) claims. The study finds that women sustain cognitive performance in early stages of disease compared to men.

This is despite humans having typically lived in small groups of around one hundred individuals, the researchers said.

"The range could be explained by some people having a natural aptitude for remembering faces. There are differences in how much attention people pay to faces, and how efficiently they process the information," Jenkins said.

Moreover, the researchers noted that age could also play a role, and it would be interesting to see whether there is a peak age for the number of faces we know.

Source-IANS