Facial Blindness

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - It is a fascinating phenomenon. It is called facial blindness. The condition is mostly inherited and people who are otherwise normal cannot see or remember faces.

It has always been a mystery but Stanford researchers have isolated the problem to a part of the brain called the fusiform gyrus.

A study patient had this area of his brain stimulated which led to him losing clear sight of a person's face.....only the face. The knowledge of the anatomic cause of the condition might lead to treatments. It also reveals the complexity of the brain.

The more we study the more we uncover.