Have you ever had trouble remembering someone’s name but could easily remember their face? Like when we meet someone we know, we can recognize the face but forget the name. This is a common phenomenon and may seem strange. However, why is this happening? In this article, we’ll explain why people remember faces more easily than names and provide some strategies to help remember both more effectively.
1. The role of the brain in remembering faces and names
Experts explain that the human brain processes visual and verbal information differently. Visual information such as faces is processed more easily and quickly by the brain than verbal information such as names, because the parts of the brain that process visual information have different functions from the parts of the brain that process verbal information, so there are differences in the ease and speed of processing information.
One part of the brain involved in processing facial information is the Fusiform Face Area (FFA). FFA is a part of the brain located in the temporal lobe that plays an important role in processing facial information. The FFA is in charge of processing the visual information of the face, including shape, expression, and skin color. When a person looks at a face, the FFA becomes active and processes facial information more efficiently than verbal information, such as names. In this case, the ability of the FFA to process visual information affects the ease with which a person remembers faces rather than names. FFA helps the brain to recognize and remember faces more effectively.
A study conducted by Kanwisher (2010) revealed that FFA functions specifically to process faces. This has been proven through studies of people with damage to the FFA, who have difficulty recognizing faces. In addition, research also shows that when we see a face, the nerve cells in the FFA react faster and more than when we see other objects.
Meanwhile, according to research conducted by Cabeza and Nyberg (2000) explains that a person’s name is considered as verbal information and is processed by parts of the brain associated with language, such as the left frontal and temporal cortex. This requires more time and effort from our brain to process. Therefore, remembering someone’s name is more difficult than remembering their face because our brains process it differently.
You don’t need to worry, because we have prepared several methods to help you remember someone’s name more easily.
2. Repeat the Name Back
Meet someone new and want to remember their name? One way to do this is to repeat the name several times during a conversation. By doing this, we can more easily remember someone’s name. Then, after getting acquainted, it’s important to repeat the name again to make sure we’ve memorized it correctly. By repeating someone’s name, we can strengthen our memory and increase our ability to remember someone’s name.
3. Create a Visual Association
Another way to help remember someone’s name is to make visual associations. For example, if someone’s name is Lily, we can picture a picture of a lily in our head when we talk to them. In this way, we can create a connection between the name and the image that is easy to remember. Also, by imagining visual images or associations, we can improve our ability to better remember someone’s name.
4. Using Techniques: Linking
The “Linking” technique is one way that can be used to help remember someone’s name. In this technique, we create a series of visual associations that link one person’s name to another. For example, if a person’s name is Bob and we want to associate it with the name Steve, we can imagine Bob and Steve playing soccer together. In this way, we can strengthen our memory and improve our ability to remember someone’s name.
So, while having trouble remembering someone’s name may seem odd, there is a scientific basis for it. By repeating a person’s name during a conversation, making visual associations, using the “Linking” technique, and repeating the name again after acquaintance, we can strengthen our memory and increase our ability to remember someone’s name. Thus, we can avoid uncomfortable situations and build better relationships with the people around us. The important thing is, by applying some of the techniques that have been described, we can overcome these problems and more easily remember someone’s name.
Reference source:
• Lorayne, H., & Lucas, J. (1974). The Memory Book: The Classic Guide to Improving Your Memory at Work, at School, and at Play. Ballantine Books.
• Cabeza, R., & Nyberg, L. (2000). Imaging cognition II: An empirical review of 275 PET and fMRI studies. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 12(1), 1-47.
• Kanwisher, N. (2010). Functional specificity in the human brain: A window into the functional architecture of the mind. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 107(25), 11163–11170. Retrieved from
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