Abstract

Prosopagnosia is usually characterised by a sudden loss in ability to recognise faces of familiar people. Sufferers typically have then to rely on voices or dress for identifying spouse, family, friends or famous individuals; and, not infrequently, do not even recognise themselves in the mirror. Before discussing prosopagnosia in more detail, I should like to give an outline account of some of the historical landmarks in its identification and investigation. In doing so I shall not attempt to give a comprehensive review of the literature: instead the more significant papers will be briefly mentioned.