Press "Enter" to skip to content

What if you could not recognize your mother’s face? | Raika Pancaroglu | TEDxEdgemontSchool


good morning everyone

good morning everyone I know it’s been just a couple of hours

I know it’s been just a couple of hours

I know it’s been just a couple of hours since you just open your eyes this

since you just open your eyes this

since you just open your eyes this morning but I will ask you to close your

morning but I will ask you to close your

morning but I will ask you to close your eyes again and we will together take a

eyes again and we will together take a

eyes again and we will together take a walk down visual memory lane okay really

walk down visual memory lane okay really

walk down visual memory lane okay really please close your eyes and we will

please close your eyes and we will

please close your eyes and we will imagine we’re at Central Park at the

imagine we’re at Central Park at the

imagine we’re at Central Park at the southeast end of the park and by the big

southeast end of the park and by the big

southeast end of the park and by the big gate leading to the zoo we will walk up

gate leading to the zoo we will walk up

gate leading to the zoo we will walk up north on Park Road pass the tickets

north on Park Road pass the tickets

north on Park Road pass the tickets office on our right the main entrance of

office on our right the main entrance of

office on our right the main entrance of the zoo on our left and we will be able

the zoo on our left and we will be able

the zoo on our left and we will be able to see some parts of the zoo as we walk

to see some parts of the zoo as we walk

to see some parts of the zoo as we walk and we will reach the Delacorte a

and we will reach the Delacorte a

and we will reach the Delacorte a musical clock and if we are there on the

musical clock and if we are there on the

musical clock and if we are there on the hour we will see the beautiful bronze

hour we will see the beautiful bronze

hour we will see the beautiful bronze animal figures dancing around the clock

animal figures dancing around the clock

animal figures dancing around the clock we will continue past the Children’s Zoo

we will continue past the Children’s Zoo

we will continue past the Children’s Zoo and we’ll walk under the overpass take a

and we’ll walk under the overpass take a

and we’ll walk under the overpass take a right at the fork and we’ll end up at

right at the fork and we’ll end up at

right at the fork and we’ll end up at the playground hidden behind the trees

the playground hidden behind the trees

the playground hidden behind the trees next to the playground the big rock

next to the playground the big rock

next to the playground the big rock one of the famous big rocks of Central

one of the famous big rocks of Central

one of the famous big rocks of Central Park and on a beautiful day there will

Park and on a beautiful day there will

Park and on a beautiful day there will be children playing at the playground

be children playing at the playground

be children playing at the playground and climbing up and down the big rock

and climbing up and down the big rock

and climbing up and down the big rock maybe taking a short break at the tree

maybe taking a short break at the tree

maybe taking a short break at the tree house on top and this time of the year

house on top and this time of the year

house on top and this time of the year the trees are all green that their

the trees are all green that their

the trees are all green that their leaves the grass is green dotted with

leaves the grass is green dotted with

leaves the grass is green dotted with busy square holes here and there and

busy square holes here and there and

busy square holes here and there and we’ll continue walking up north past

we’ll continue walking up north past

we’ll continue walking up north past 72nd Street and on the path down the

72nd Street and on the path down the

72nd Street and on the path down the hill we’ll arrive at the conservatory

hill we’ll arrive at the conservatory

hill we’ll arrive at the conservatory water where we will see the model boats

water where we will see the model boats

water where we will see the model boats sailing ok you may open your eyes now so

sailing ok you may open your eyes now so

sailing ok you may open your eyes now so I gave you the contents to follow of

I gave you the contents to follow of

I gave you the contents to follow of this walk just using sound and language

this walk just using sound and language

this walk just using sound and language which is another great skill of the

which is another great skill of the

which is another great skill of the human brain but what may

human brain but what may

human brain but what may it possible for us to take this walk

it possible for us to take this walk

it possible for us to take this walk together even those of you who are not

together even those of you who are not

together even those of you who are not familiar with Central Park or those

familiar with Central Park or those

familiar with Central Park or those parts of the park that I talked about

parts of the park that I talked about

parts of the park that I talked about and even for those of you who did not

and even for those of you who did not

and even for those of you who did not close your eyes the whole time you were

close your eyes the whole time you were

close your eyes the whole time you were able to follow and we were able to walk

able to follow and we were able to walk

able to follow and we were able to walk together thanks to our visual system the

together thanks to our visual system the

together thanks to our visual system the visual system makes a complete halt a

visual system makes a complete halt a

visual system makes a complete halt a snapshot of the whole world around us

snapshot of the whole world around us

snapshot of the whole world around us and it continuously updates the snapshot

and it continuously updates the snapshot

and it continuously updates the snapshot to check for any changes happening

to check for any changes happening

to check for any changes happening around the environment and it relays

around the environment and it relays

around the environment and it relays this information to the learning and

this information to the learning and

this information to the learning and memory networks of our brain integrated

memory networks of our brain integrated

memory networks of our brain integrated with our visual system and it does it

with our visual system and it does it

with our visual system and it does it just starting with light light reflected

just starting with light light reflected

just starting with light light reflected off the surface of objects falling to

off the surface of objects falling to

off the surface of objects falling to the back of our eyes to our retina and

the back of our eyes to our retina and

the back of our eyes to our retina and then getting converted to electrical

then getting converted to electrical

then getting converted to electrical signals which are transmitted all the

signals which are transmitted all the

signals which are transmitted all the way to the back of our heads to the

way to the back of our heads to the

way to the back of our heads to the primary visual cortex light reaches the

primary visual cortex light reaches the

primary visual cortex light reaches the neurons at the back of our brains and

neurons at the back of our brains and

neurons at the back of our brains and ooh my brain is not showing up but

ooh my brain is not showing up but

ooh my brain is not showing up but imagine that there is actually this is

imagine that there is actually this is

imagine that there is actually this is the back of our head and the neurons at

the back of our head and the neurons at

the back of our head and the neurons at the back of our heads are putting things

the back of our heads are putting things

the back of our heads are putting things together just lines bars and

together just lines bars and

together just lines bars and orientations of these bars from edges to

orientations of these bars from edges to

orientations of these bars from edges to color texture and segments of objects

color texture and segments of objects

color texture and segments of objects and finally an object a lamp and not

and finally an object a lamp and not

and finally an object a lamp and not just a lamp but a lamp spatially located

just a lamp but a lamp spatially located

just a lamp but a lamp spatially located on a table in a room and the part that

on a table in a room and the part that

on a table in a room and the part that is at the bottom of our heads our

is at the bottom of our heads our

is at the bottom of our heads our ventral temporal cortex is specialized

ventral temporal cortex is specialized

ventral temporal cortex is specialized in object recognition and out of all the

in object recognition and out of all the

in object recognition and out of all the objects that our visual system has to

objects that our visual system has to

objects that our visual system has to process day in and out there is one

process day in and out there is one

process day in and out there is one specific class of visual stimulus that

specific class of visual stimulus that

specific class of visual stimulus that is very important for our daily

is very important for our daily

is very important for our daily interactions and that is a human face

we recognize people by their faces we

we recognize people by their faces we can identify who they are from their

can identify who they are from their

can identify who they are from their faces we can tell how they’re feeling

faces we can tell how they’re feeling

faces we can tell how they’re feeling from their faces whether they’re having

from their faces whether they’re having

from their faces whether they’re having a good day or not feeling that great and

a good day or not feeling that great and

a good day or not feeling that great and we can also infer their intentions from

we can also infer their intentions from

we can also infer their intentions from where they’re looking at from where

where they’re looking at from where

where they’re looking at from where their gaze it and reflecting the

their gaze it and reflecting the

their gaze it and reflecting the importance of faces in our daily lives

importance of faces in our daily lives

importance of faces in our daily lives our brains have multiple locations that

our brains have multiple locations that

our brains have multiple locations that show higher activation in response to

show higher activation in response to

show higher activation in response to faces so these regions that you see as

faces so these regions that you see as

faces so these regions that you see as the orange dots and for me for example

the orange dots and for me for example

the orange dots and for me for example these two particular faces will be

these two particular faces will be

these two particular faces will be activating much more specialized and

activating much more specialized and

activating much more specialized and more spread integrated areas of my brain

more spread integrated areas of my brain

more spread integrated areas of my brain they will also cause activations in my

they will also cause activations in my

they will also cause activations in my memory centers and also emotion centers

memory centers and also emotion centers

memory centers and also emotion centers who do you think these faces could

who do you think these faces could

who do you think these faces could belong to anyone exactly these are my

belong to anyone exactly these are my

belong to anyone exactly these are my parents these are faces that I am very

parents these are faces that I am very

parents these are faces that I am very familiar with I have many memories about

familiar with I have many memories about

familiar with I have many memories about these faces and I also have strong

these faces and I also have strong

these faces and I also have strong emotions for these faces and it’s the

emotions for these faces and it’s the

emotions for these faces and it’s the same thing for each of you for your

same thing for each of you for your

same thing for each of you for your parents for your siblings for your

parents for your siblings for your

parents for your siblings for your friends for people that you’re familiar

friends for people that you’re familiar

friends for people that you’re familiar with that people that you recognize you

with that people that you recognize you

with that people that you recognize you also will have higher activations in

also will have higher activations in

also will have higher activations in your visual cortex where you see those

your visual cortex where you see those

your visual cortex where you see those faces and in some rare cases when people

faces and in some rare cases when people

faces and in some rare cases when people have damage to their brain in that pink

have damage to their brain in that pink

have damage to their brain in that pink shaded area which is overlapping a few

shaded area which is overlapping a few

shaded area which is overlapping a few areas of the face responsive Network

areas of the face responsive Network

areas of the face responsive Network people will become face blind meaning

people will become face blind meaning

people will become face blind meaning they will not be able to recognize

they will not be able to recognize

they will not be able to recognize familiar faces anymore and they will not

familiar faces anymore and they will not

familiar faces anymore and they will not be able to learn and remember your faces

be able to learn and remember your faces

be able to learn and remember your faces imagine how devastating it would be for

imagine how devastating it would be for

imagine how devastating it would be for me to look at these faces just see that

me to look at these faces just see that

me to look at these faces just see that these are faces of people but not know

these are faces of people but not know

these are faces of people but not know that mayor my parents

that mayor my parents

that mayor my parents and this condition is called

and this condition is called

and this condition is called prosopagnosia prosopagnosia from greek

prosopagnosia prosopagnosia from greek

prosopagnosia prosopagnosia from greek meaning not knowing faces and indeed

meaning not knowing faces and indeed

meaning not knowing faces and indeed this is a problem of not knowing it’s

this is a problem of not knowing it’s

this is a problem of not knowing it’s not a problem of not seeing because the

not a problem of not seeing because the

not a problem of not seeing because the eyes and the early visual areas of these

eyes and the early visual areas of these

eyes and the early visual areas of these patients are intact they can see that

patients are intact they can see that

patients are intact they can see that these are faces in fact patients would

these are faces in fact patients would

these are faces in fact patients would report that they can see the eyes they

report that they can see the eyes they

report that they can see the eyes they can see the nose and the mouth clearly

can see the nose and the mouth clearly

can see the nose and the mouth clearly but these features somehow do not add up

but these features somehow do not add up

but these features somehow do not add up for the patient to know whose face that

for the patient to know whose face that

for the patient to know whose face that is now what in a face is helpful and

is now what in a face is helpful and

is now what in a face is helpful and informative for us to know who that

informative for us to know who that

informative for us to know who that person is we’ll do a quick test together

person is we’ll do a quick test together

person is we’ll do a quick test together what part of a face is giving us

what part of a face is giving us

what part of a face is giving us information so if we cover up the

information so if we cover up the

information so if we cover up the features of a face we can still make up

features of a face we can still make up

features of a face we can still make up that this is actually a human face from

that this is actually a human face from

that this is actually a human face from the contours but we can’t really tell

the contours but we can’t really tell

the contours but we can’t really tell whose face that is but trust me this is

whose face that is but trust me this is

whose face that is but trust me this is a face although you may not have seen in

a face although you may not have seen in

a face although you may not have seen in real life this is a face that you’re

real life this is a face that you’re

real life this is a face that you’re familiar with if we expose the mouth is

familiar with if we expose the mouth is

familiar with if we expose the mouth is it very helpful for anyone to tell well

it very helpful for anyone to tell well

it very helpful for anyone to tell well that could be oh yeah yes it’s Kim

that could be oh yeah yes it’s Kim

that could be oh yeah yes it’s Kim Kardashian

Kardashian

Kardashian not bad okay how about the nose

not bad okay how about the nose

not bad okay how about the nose anyone all right wow that is a super

anyone all right wow that is a super

anyone all right wow that is a super face recognizer over there okay how

face recognizer over there okay how

face recognizer over there okay how about this

about this

about this now it should be quite obvious to all of

now it should be quite obvious to all of

now it should be quite obvious to all of you that this face is rihanna’s face so

you that this face is rihanna’s face so

you that this face is rihanna’s face so except for a few super recognizers

except for a few super recognizers

except for a few super recognizers actually it is the eyes that give us the

actually it is the eyes that give us the

actually it is the eyes that give us the most information to know whose face that

most information to know whose face that

most information to know whose face that is and indeed actually a half a century

is and indeed actually a half a century

is and indeed actually a half a century ago yard was the studies show that when

ago yard was the studies show that when

ago yard was the studies show that when people are observing faces they look

people are observing faces they look

people are observing faces they look mostly at the eyes of the faces here on

mostly at the eyes of the faces here on

mostly at the eyes of the faces here on the right you can see the black track or

the right you can see the black track or

the right you can see the black track or it’s the their gaze overlaid on the

it’s the their gaze overlaid on the

it’s the their gaze overlaid on the image and the darkest parts on that

image and the darkest parts on that

image and the darkest parts on that image are the eyes in the lab

image are the eyes in the lab

image are the eyes in the lab we can start with two faces and take the

we can start with two faces and take the

we can start with two faces and take the most informative eye region part of one

most informative eye region part of one

most informative eye region part of one face that’s in that rectangle and merge

face that’s in that rectangle and merge

face that’s in that rectangle and merge it with the face on the left and we’ll

it with the face on the left and we’ll

it with the face on the left and we’ll end up with two new faces so it’s not as

end up with two new faces so it’s not as

end up with two new faces so it’s not as easy as it would be in real life but I

easy as it would be in real life but I

easy as it would be in real life but I guess we can all make out that these two

guess we can all make out that these two

guess we can all make out that these two are different faces and the difference

are different faces and the difference

are different faces and the difference between the two faces are the eyes

between the two faces are the eyes

between the two faces are the eyes do you agree okay but when you ask face

do you agree okay but when you ask face

do you agree okay but when you ask face blind people with damage to the face

blind people with damage to the face

blind people with damage to the face responsive areas in their brain shown in

responsive areas in their brain shown in

responsive areas in their brain shown in the pink shaded area they will not be

the pink shaded area they will not be

the pink shaded area they will not be able to tell you that these faces are

able to tell you that these faces are

able to tell you that these faces are different and even the ones that can

different and even the ones that can

different and even the ones that can tell that the faces are different they

tell that the faces are different they

tell that the faces are different they won’t know that it’s the eyes that are

won’t know that it’s the eyes that are

won’t know that it’s the eyes that are different between these two faces so is

different between these two faces so is

different between these two faces so is it the eyes is it the eye region the

it the eyes is it the eye region the

it the eyes is it the eye region the distance between the two eyes the whole

distance between the two eyes the whole

distance between the two eyes the whole eye brows coming together is this the

eye brows coming together is this the

eye brows coming together is this the part this image that our visual system

part this image that our visual system

part this image that our visual system stamps is okay the relationship of this

stamps is okay the relationship of this

stamps is okay the relationship of this part the eye region this looks like

part the eye region this looks like

part the eye region this looks like phase X I’m going to stamp it as space X

phase X I’m going to stamp it as space X

phase X I’m going to stamp it as space X and I’m going to relay it to the

and I’m going to relay it to the

and I’m going to relay it to the learning and memory centers to put it on

learning and memory centers to put it on

learning and memory centers to put it on the folder of other information with

the folder of other information with

the folder of other information with person X is that how it’s happening and

person X is that how it’s happening and

person X is that how it’s happening and where exactly in the visual system where

where exactly in the visual system where

where exactly in the visual system where exactly in those integrated areas from

exactly in those integrated areas from

exactly in those integrated areas from seeing to knowing is translated is it

seeing to knowing is translated is it

seeing to knowing is translated is it the areas that are under that pink shade

the areas that are under that pink shade

the areas that are under that pink shade the areas that are not activated in face

the areas that are not activated in face

the areas that are not activated in face blind people anymore or is it the

blind people anymore or is it the

blind people anymore or is it the connections of these areas to further

connections of these areas to further

connections of these areas to further network areas downstream and not just

network areas downstream and not just

network areas downstream and not just faces for all the other things all the

faces for all the other things all the

faces for all the other things all the other visual information that we see all

other visual information that we see all

other visual information that we see all the time how is it that our brain our

the time how is it that our brain our

the time how is it that our brain our visual system binding together all this

visual system binding together all this

visual system binding together all this information that it starts just from

information that it starts just from

information that it starts just from bits from just light

bits from just light

bits from just light and just gives us a whole flawless

and just gives us a whole flawless

and just gives us a whole flawless picture of the world not only that we’re

picture of the world not only that we’re

picture of the world not only that we’re also able to take a trip together even

also able to take a trip together even

also able to take a trip together even when we don’t have the visual image in

when we don’t have the visual image in

when we don’t have the visual image in front of our eyes we have lots of data

front of our eyes we have lots of data

front of our eyes we have lots of data we have many theories and we have bits

we have many theories and we have bits

we have many theories and we have bits and pieces of it but we don’t exactly

and pieces of it but we don’t exactly

and pieces of it but we don’t exactly know how the brain is doing it we’ve

know how the brain is doing it we’ve

know how the brain is doing it we’ve come a long way for non-invasive human

come a long way for non-invasive human

come a long way for non-invasive human studies so the picture on the left

studies so the picture on the left

studies so the picture on the left it’s an earlier example of computer

it’s an earlier example of computer

it’s an earlier example of computer tomography and you can actually barely

tomography and you can actually barely

tomography and you can actually barely make out where the brain is over there

make out where the brain is over there

make out where the brain is over there and on the right you see a recent

and on the right you see a recent

and on the right you see a recent 7-tesla intensity magnetic resonance

7-tesla intensity magnetic resonance

7-tesla intensity magnetic resonance image non-invasive taken of a human but

image non-invasive taken of a human but

image non-invasive taken of a human but we still need further breakthroughs in

we still need further breakthroughs in

we still need further breakthroughs in physics to increase this resolution and

physics to increase this resolution and

physics to increase this resolution and we also need comprehensive computational

we also need comprehensive computational

we also need comprehensive computational models to put together the information

models to put together the information

models to put together the information from non-invasive human studies and from

from non-invasive human studies and from

from non-invasive human studies and from animal studies to have a better picture

animal studies to have a better picture

animal studies to have a better picture of how our brain is doing it and maybe

of how our brain is doing it and maybe

of how our brain is doing it and maybe one of the scientists future scientists

one of the scientists future scientists

one of the scientists future scientists among you will be able to come with this

among you will be able to come with this

among you will be able to come with this breakthrough and will help answer these

breakthrough and will help answer these

breakthrough and will help answer these questions thank you

questions thank you

questions thank you [Applause]

”

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *