The death of Muhammad Ali a week ago was another blow, in a year which has already seen the passing of David Bowie, Victoria Wood and Prince, among other beloved celebrities. A curious phenomenon that many people who have lost a loved one have experienced is the fleeting recognition of the deceased in a crowd. Facial recognition is a highly developed skill with its own dedicated brain area. When we look at someone, we use even the most detailed features in an attempt to identify them. Seeing someone you recognise – or think you recognise – can provoke a strong emotional response.
Because this neural machinery is so strong, once a face has been remembered, it’s very difficult to forget it, even if the person died many years ago. In fact, the emotional impact can hit even harder years later, when the erroneous facial recognition brings the past back with a jolt.
This is also why you can recognise people years after you met them, even if you cannot remember for the life of you who they are – and why we think strangers look like celebrities, whether they’re alive or dead.
Dr Daniel Glaser is director of Science Gallery at King’s College London
