Why can't I recognise faces?

CrowdScience listener Jeroen finds it hard to remember people's faces - and he wants to know why. He wonders if it's to do with getting older and if there’s any way of improving. Presenter Caroline Steel has the same problem and is keen to find an answer too. She meets Professor Zaira Cattaneo, a neuroscientist based in Italy who researches face perception. Zaira has discovered which parts of the brain are engaged in facial recognition. She explains how we recognise faces and why ageing could be a factor in Jeroen’s difficulty. Caroline travels to Bournemouth in the UK to meet researcher Professor Sarah Bate, who assesses Caroline's ability to recognise faces and explains the causes of face blindness. And she compares notes with fellow CrowdScience presenter Marnie Chesterton, who also has difficulty remembering faces. Around two per cent of the population have the condition. Could there be a reason why more than a third of CrowdScience presenters experience face blindness? If you’ve got a science question you’d like us to answer, email crowdscience@bbc.co.uk. Presenter Caroline Steel Producer Jo Glanville Editor Ben Motley (Photo:Packaging cardboard on the head with different emotions - stock photo Credit: Flying broccoli via Getty Images)

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Why can't I recognise faces? is an episode from CrowdScience by BBC.

This episode is 26:28 long.

This episode was published on May 1, 2026.

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