Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find out how & where we process Atractiveness

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neuropsychology
the branch of psychology that is concerned with the physiological bases of psychological processes

Waite worked with UBC prof Jason
Barton, Canada Research Chair in the
Neuropsychology of Vision and Eye
Movements, and investigators from
Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology.
department of sociology
the academic department responsible for teaching and research in sociology

She is teaching in
collaboration with Prof. Neil Guppy,
head of the Department of Sociology.
continued on page 5
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teaching fellow
a graduate student with teaching responsibilities

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
Arts Initiative Targets
Undergrad Teaching:
Attracts 14 highly regarded post-docs
By julie-ann ba ckhouse
This year, UBC arts students have a chance
to learn from young intellectuals and gain
exposure to leading interdisciplinary research
with the appointment of 14 new postdoctoral
teaching fellows in the arts faculty.
express emotion
give verbal or other expression to one's feelings

Although
prosopagnosia patients cannot identify
faces, they can judge subtle facial clues,
such as a raised eyebrow or pursed lips that
express emotion and convey social cues.
temporal lobe
the part of the brain that processes sounds and stores memories

However, because attractiveness
is a social signal that helps us judge
continued on page 3
personality or mating potential, scientists
believed it might be processed in a region
of the brain that “reads” changing facial
properties, an area called the superior
temporal sulcus that is located at the
tops of the temporal lobes.
social movement
a group of people with a common ideology who try together to achieve certain general goals

The investigators’ wanted to determine
Catherine Corrigall-Brown has returned home to teach undergraduate students, and
continue her research, into social movements and activism.
eye candy
pleasing but intellectually undemanding visual images

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
By Hilary Th omson
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder,
but according to research conducted by a
UBC medical student, eye candy fails to
find a sweet tooth in patients with a rare
disorder.
sulcus
(anatomy) any of the narrow grooves in an organ or tissue especially those that mark the convolutions on the surface of the brain

However, because attractiveness
is a social signal that helps us judge
continued on page 3
personality or mating potential, scientists
believed it might be processed in a region
of the brain that “reads” changing facial
properties, an area called the superior
temporal sulcus that is located at the
tops of the temporal lobes.
undergrad
a university student who has not yet received a first degree

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
Arts Initiative Targets
Undergrad Teaching:
Attracts 14 highly regarded post-docs
By julie-ann ba ckhouse
This year, UBC arts students have a chance
to learn from young intellectuals and gain
exposure to leading interdisciplinary research
with the appointment of 14 new postdoctoral
teaching fellows in the arts faculty.
postdoctoral
of or relating to study or research that is done after work for the doctoral degree has been completed

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
Arts Initiative Targets
Undergrad Teaching:
Attracts 14 highly regarded post-docs
By julie-ann ba ckhouse
This year, UBC arts students have a chance
to learn from young intellectuals and gain
exposure to leading interdisciplinary research
with the appointment of 14 new postdoctoral
teaching fellows in the arts faculty.
clinician
a practitioner who works directly with patients

The findings
may provide another assessment tool to help
clinicians localize areas of brain damage.
attractiveness
the quality of arousing interest

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.
interdisciplinary
drawing from two or more fields of study

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
Arts Initiative Targets
Undergrad Teaching:
Attracts 14 highly regarded post-docs
By julie-ann ba ckhouse
This year, UBC arts students have a chance
to learn from young intellectuals and gain
exposure to leading interdisciplinary research
with the appointment of 14 new postdoctoral
teaching fellows in the arts faculty.
fusiform
tapering at each end

The region
is called the fusiform face area.
brain damage
injury to the brain that impairs its functions

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.
localize
concentrate on a particular place or spot

The findings
may provide another assessment tool to help
clinicians localize areas of brain damage.
facial
of or concerning the front of the head

Chris Waite, a third-year med student, has
studied how patients with prosopagnosia
– the inability to recognize familiar faces,
even family members, because of brain injury
– perceive facial attractiveness.
sweet tooth
a strong appetite for sweet food

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
By Hilary Th omson
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder,
but according to research conducted by a
UBC medical student, eye candy fails to
find a sweet tooth in patients with a rare
disorder.
Waite
United States jurist who was appointed chief justice of the United States Supreme Court in 1874 by President Grant (1816-1888)

Chris Waite, a third-year med student, has
studied how patients with prosopagnosia
– the inability to recognize familiar faces,
even family members, because of brain injury
– perceive facial attractiveness.
encephalitis
inflammation of the brain usually caused by a virus

The
condition can result from trauma to the
head, illness such as encephalitis, or
inflammation of the brain, stroke, coma
or insufficient oxygen supply at birth.
third-year
used of the third or next to final year in United States high school or college

Chris Waite, a third-year med student, has
studied how patients with prosopagnosia
– the inability to recognize familiar faces,
even family members, because of brain injury
– perceive facial attractiveness.
PhD
a doctorate usually based on at least 3 years graduate study

Catherine Corrigall-Brown is one of
them and has returned home to Canada
with a PhD from the University of
California, Irving.
medical student
a student in medical school

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
By Hilary Th omson
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder,
but according to research conducted by a
UBC medical student, eye candy fails to
find a sweet tooth in patients with a rare
disorder.
doc
a licensed medical practitioner

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
Arts Initiative Targets
Undergrad Teaching:
Attracts 14 highly regarded post-docs
By julie-ann ba ckhouse
This year, UBC arts students have a chance
to learn from young intellectuals and gain
exposure to leading interdisciplinary research
with the appointment of 14 new postdoctoral
teaching fellows in the arts faculty.
activism
a policy of action to achieve a political or social goal

The investigators’ wanted to determine
Catherine Corrigall-Brown has returned home to teach undergraduate students, and
continue her research, into social movements and activism.
neurology
the branch of medicine that deals with the nervous system

The study was the first of
its kind and earned Waite the American
Academy of Neurology Award for best
medical student essay.
guppy
small freshwater fish of South America and the West Indies

She is teaching in
collaboration with Prof. Neil Guppy,
head of the Department of Sociology.
continued on page 5
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enrolment
the act of registering for something

Of the inaugural 14 new appointments,
Corrigall-Brown is one of nine teaching
first-year classes, addressing an area
of high enrolment.
doctoral
of or relating to a doctor or doctorate

The initiative, the first of its kind in
Canada, has brought together 14 young,
highly regarded post-doctoral fellows fresh
from studies across the world in places
like Barcelona, Chicago, Connecticut,
Manchester, London and Sydney.
lobe
a rounded projection that is part of a larger structure

The damaged area of the brain for
those with face-blindness is usually found
in the medial side of the occipital (low
back of the brain, near the spinal cord)
and temporal, or side lobes.
occipital
of or relating to the occiput

The damaged area of the brain for
those with face-blindness is usually found
in the medial side of the occipital (low
back of the brain, near the spinal cord)
and temporal, or side lobes.
medial
relating to or situated in or extending toward the middle

The damaged area of the brain for
those with face-blindness is usually found
in the medial side of the occipital (low
back of the brain, near the spinal cord)
and temporal, or side lobes.
processed
subjected to a special treatment

Because
attractiveness depends on non-changing
elements of facial structure – which in
Western society include a strong jaw, big
eyes and a straight nose – it was thought
that attractiveness might be processed in
this area.
integrating
the action of incorporating a racial or religious group into a community

Individuals with prosopagnosia
have trouble extracting and integrating
information they see in a face and rely on
other characteristics, such as hair, body
shape and gait to recognize people.
Greenpeace
an international organization that works for environmental conservation and the preservation of endangered species

All inspiring questions that relate to
undergraduate experience and connect
to the west coast as the home of peaceful
protests and the birthplace of Greenpeace.
impairment
a reduction in quality or strength

The research team studied eight
individuals with prosopagnosia, an
impairment also known as of face-blindness.
first-year
used of a person in the first year of an experience

Of the inaugural 14 new appointments,
Corrigall-Brown is one of nine teaching
first-year classes, addressing an area
of high enrolment.
blindness
the state of being blind or lacking sight

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.
bring together
cause to become joined or linked

The initiative, the first of its kind in
Canada, has brought together 14 young,
highly regarded post-doctoral fellows fresh
from studies across the world in places
like Barcelona, Chicago, Connecticut,
Manchester, London and Sydney.
researcher
a scientist devoted to systematic investigation

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.
undergraduate
a university student who has not yet received a first degree

The investigators’ wanted to determine
Catherine Corrigall-Brown has returned home to teach undergraduate students, and
continue her research, into social movements and activism.
integrate
make into a whole or make part of a whole

Individuals with prosopagnosia
have trouble extracting and integrating
information they see in a face and rely on
other characteristics, such as hair, body
shape and gait to recognize people.
spinal cord
a major part of the central nervous system which conducts sensory and motor nerve impulses to and from the brain; a long tubelike structure extending from the base of the brain through the vertebral canal to the upper lumbar region

The damaged area of the brain for
those with face-blindness is usually found
in the medial side of the occipital (low
back of the brain, near the spinal cord)
and temporal, or side lobes.
investigator
someone who inquires carefully

Waite worked with UBC prof Jason
Barton, Canada Research Chair in the
Neuropsychology of Vision and Eye
Movements, and investigators from
Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology.
add up
add up in number or quantity

They wanted to know where the brain
processes visual information that adds up to
a judgment about facial attractiveness.
coma
a state of deep and often prolonged unconsciousness

The
condition can result from trauma to the
head, illness such as encephalitis, or
inflammation of the brain, stroke, coma
or insufficient oxygen supply at birth.
mating
the act of pairing a male and female for reproductive purposes

However, because attractiveness
is a social signal that helps us judge
continued on page 3
personality or mating potential, scientists
believed it might be processed in a region
of the brain that “reads” changing facial
properties, an area called the superior
temporal sulcus that is located at the
tops of the temporal lobes.
eyebrow
the arch of hair above each eye

Although
prosopagnosia patients cannot identify
faces, they can judge subtle facial clues,
such as a raised eyebrow or pursed lips that
express emotion and convey social cues.
trauma
an emotional wound or shock having long-lasting effects

The
condition can result from trauma to the
head, illness such as encephalitis, or
inflammation of the brain, stroke, coma
or insufficient oxygen supply at birth.
temporal
of or relating to or limited by time

The damaged area of the brain for
those with face-blindness is usually found
in the medial side of the occipital (low
back of the brain, near the spinal cord)
and temporal, or side lobes.
also known as
as known or named at another time or place

The research team studied eight
individuals with prosopagnosia, an
impairment also known as of face-blindness.
beholder
a person who becomes aware through the senses

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
By Hilary Th omson
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder,
but according to research conducted by a
UBC medical student, eye candy fails to
find a sweet tooth in patients with a rare
disorder.
brain
the organ that is the center of the nervous system

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.
visual
relating to or using sight

“Face
perception is a highly complex visual
skill.
robot
a mechanism that can move automatically

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.
research
a seeking for knowledge

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
By Hilary Th omson
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder,
but according to research conducted by a
UBC medical student, eye candy fails to
find a sweet tooth in patients with a rare
disorder.
sociology
the study and classification of human societies

She is teaching in
collaboration with Prof. Neil Guppy,
head of the Department of Sociology.
continued on page 5
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teach
impart skills or knowledge to

The investigators’ wanted to determine
Catherine Corrigall-Brown has returned home to teach undergraduate students, and
continue her research, into social movements and activism.
inaugural
occurring at or characteristic of a formal induction

Of the inaugural 14 new appointments,
Corrigall-Brown is one of nine teaching
first-year classes, addressing an area
of high enrolment.
prof
someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university

Waite worked with UBC prof Jason
Barton, Canada Research Chair in the
Neuropsychology of Vision and Eye
Movements, and investigators from
Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology.
spinal
of or relating to the spine or spinal cord

The damaged area of the brain for
those with face-blindness is usually found
in the medial side of the occipital (low
back of the brain, near the spinal cord)
and temporal, or side lobes.
jointly
in collaboration or cooperation

In 2006, a web survey of 1,600 people
conducted jointly by a team from Harvard
and University College London suggested
that up to two per cent of people have
some degree of face-blindness.
collaboration
act of working jointly

She is teaching in
collaboration with Prof. Neil Guppy,
head of the Department of Sociology.
continued on page 5
UBC REPORTS
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teaching
the activities of educating or instructing

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
Arts Initiative Targets
Undergrad Teaching:
Attracts 14 highly regarded post-docs
By julie-ann ba ckhouse
This year, UBC arts students have a chance
to learn from young intellectuals and gain
exposure to leading interdisciplinary research
with the appointment of 14 new postdoctoral
teaching fellows in the arts faculty.
Brown
Scottish botanist who first observed the movement of small particles in fluids now known a Brownian motion (1773-1858)

The investigators’ wanted to determine
Catherine Corrigall-Brown has returned home to teach undergraduate students, and
continue her research, into social movements and activism.
initiative
readiness to embark on bold new ventures

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
Arts Initiative Targets
Undergrad Teaching:
Attracts 14 highly regarded post-docs
By julie-ann ba ckhouse
This year, UBC arts students have a chance
to learn from young intellectuals and gain
exposure to leading interdisciplinary research
with the appointment of 14 new postdoctoral
teaching fellows in the arts faculty.
identify
recognize as being

Exploring how the brain processes
judgments about facial beauty help us
identify the role of various regions of the
brain.”
birthplace
where someone was born

All inspiring questions that relate to
undergraduate experience and connect
to the west coast as the home of peaceful
protests and the birthplace of Greenpeace.
cue
a reminder for some action or speech

Although
prosopagnosia patients cannot identify
faces, they can judge subtle facial clues,
such as a raised eyebrow or pursed lips that
express emotion and convey social cues.
student
a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
By Hilary Th omson
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder,
but according to research conducted by a
UBC medical student, eye candy fails to
find a sweet tooth in patients with a rare
disorder.
award
give, especially as an honor

The study was the first of
its kind and earned Waite the American
Academy of Neurology Award for best
medical student essay.
area
the extent of a two-dimensional surface within a boundary

The findings
may provide another assessment tool to help
clinicians localize areas of brain damage.
locate
determine the place of by searching or examining

However, because attractiveness
is a social signal that helps us judge
continued on page 3
personality or mating potential, scientists
believed it might be processed in a region
of the brain that “reads” changing facial
properties, an area called the superior
temporal sulcus that is located at the
tops of the temporal lobes.
damage
the occurrence of a change for the worse

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.
inflammation
the state of being emotionally aroused and worked up

The
condition can result from trauma to the
head, illness such as encephalitis, or
inflammation of the brain, stroke, coma
or insufficient oxygen supply at birth.
Catherine
first wife of Henry VIII

The investigators’ wanted to determine
Catherine Corrigall-Brown has returned home to teach undergraduate students, and
continue her research, into social movements and activism.
recognize
perceive to be something or something you can identify

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.
assessment
the act of judging a person or situation or event

The findings
may provide another assessment tool to help
clinicians localize areas of brain damage.
Harvard
American philanthropist who left his library and half his estate to the Massachusetts college that now bears his name (1607-1638)

Waite worked with UBC prof Jason
Barton, Canada Research Chair in the
Neuropsychology of Vision and Eye
Movements, and investigators from
Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology.
gait
an animal's manner of moving

Individuals with prosopagnosia
have trouble extracting and integrating
information they see in a face and rely on
other characteristics, such as hair, body
shape and gait to recognize people.
rely on
put trust in with confidence

Individuals with prosopagnosia
have trouble extracting and integrating
information they see in a face and rely on
other characteristics, such as hair, body
shape and gait to recognize people.
inspiring
stimulating or exalting to the spirit

All inspiring questions that relate to
undergraduate experience and connect
to the west coast as the home of peaceful
protests and the birthplace of Greenpeace.
findings
a collection of tools and other articles used by an artisan to make jewelry or clothing or shoes

The findings
may provide another assessment tool to help
clinicians localize areas of brain damage.
Barcelona
a city in northeastern Spain on the Mediterranean

The initiative, the first of its kind in
Canada, has brought together 14 young,
highly regarded post-doctoral fellows fresh
from studies across the world in places
like Barcelona, Chicago, Connecticut,
Manchester, London and Sydney.
process
a particular course of action intended to achieve a result

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.
insufficient
of a quantity not able to fulfill a need or requirement

The
condition can result from trauma to the
head, illness such as encephalitis, or
inflammation of the brain, stroke, coma
or insufficient oxygen supply at birth.
outstanding
of major significance or importance

Her research and work
on social movements and activism won an
outstanding teaching award in the US.
inability
lack of capacity to do something

Chris Waite, a third-year med student, has
studied how patients with prosopagnosia
– the inability to recognize familiar faces,
even family members, because of brain injury
– perceive facial attractiveness.
Irving
United States writer remembered for his stories (1783-1859)

Catherine Corrigall-Brown is one of
them and has returned home to Canada
with a PhD from the University of
California, Irving.
candy
a rich sweet made of flavored sugar often with fruit or nuts

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
By Hilary Th omson
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder,
but according to research conducted by a
UBC medical student, eye candy fails to
find a sweet tooth in patients with a rare
disorder.
tooth
hard bonelike structures in the jaws of vertebrates

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
By Hilary Th omson
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder,
but according to research conducted by a
UBC medical student, eye candy fails to
find a sweet tooth in patients with a rare
disorder.
explore
travel to or penetrate into

Exploring how the brain processes
judgments about facial beauty help us
identify the role of various regions of the
brain.”
scientist
a person with advanced knowledge of empirical fields

However, because attractiveness
is a social signal that helps us judge
continued on page 3
personality or mating potential, scientists
believed it might be processed in a region
of the brain that “reads” changing facial
properties, an area called the superior
temporal sulcus that is located at the
tops of the temporal lobes.
connect
fasten or put together two or more pieces

All inspiring questions that relate to
undergraduate experience and connect
to the west coast as the home of peaceful
protests and the birthplace of Greenpeace.
appointment
a meeting arranged in advance

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
Arts Initiative Targets
Undergrad Teaching:
Attracts 14 highly regarded post-docs
By julie-ann ba ckhouse
This year, UBC arts students have a chance
to learn from young intellectuals and gain
exposure to leading interdisciplinary research
with the appointment of 14 new postdoctoral
teaching fellows in the arts faculty.
clue
evidence that helps to solve a problem

Although
prosopagnosia patients cannot identify
faces, they can judge subtle facial clues,
such as a raised eyebrow or pursed lips that
express emotion and convey social cues.
arts
studies intended to provide general knowledge and skills

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
Arts Initiative Targets
Undergrad Teaching:
Attracts 14 highly regarded post-docs
By julie-ann ba ckhouse
This year, UBC arts students have a chance
to learn from young intellectuals and gain
exposure to leading interdisciplinary research
with the appointment of 14 new postdoctoral
teaching fellows in the arts faculty.
Canada
a nation in northern North America

Waite worked with UBC prof Jason
Barton, Canada Research Chair in the
Neuropsychology of Vision and Eye
Movements, and investigators from
Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology.
inspire
serve as the inciting cause of

All inspiring questions that relate to
undergraduate experience and connect
to the west coast as the home of peaceful
protests and the birthplace of Greenpeace.
oxygen
a colorless, odorless gas that is essential for respiration

The
condition can result from trauma to the
head, illness such as encephalitis, or
inflammation of the brain, stroke, coma
or insufficient oxygen supply at birth.
changing
marked by continuous modification or effective action

Because
attractiveness depends on non-changing
elements of facial structure – which in
Western society include a strong jaw, big
eyes and a straight nose – it was thought
that attractiveness might be processed in
this area.
individual
being or characteristic of a single thing or person

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.
damaged
harmed or injured or spoiled

The damaged area of the brain for
those with face-blindness is usually found
in the medial side of the occipital (low
back of the brain, near the spinal cord)
and temporal, or side lobes.
patient
enduring trying circumstances with even temper

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
By Hilary Th omson
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder,
but according to research conducted by a
UBC medical student, eye candy fails to
find a sweet tooth in patients with a rare
disorder.
depend on
be contingent on

Because
attractiveness depends on non-changing
elements of facial structure – which in
Western society include a strong jaw, big
eyes and a straight nose – it was thought
that attractiveness might be processed in
this area.
jaw
the part of the skull of a vertebrate that frames the mouth

Because
attractiveness depends on non-changing
elements of facial structure – which in
Western society include a strong jaw, big
eyes and a straight nose – it was thought
that attractiveness might be processed in
this area.
social
living together or enjoying life in communities

However, because attractiveness
is a social signal that helps us judge
continued on page 3
personality or mating potential, scientists
believed it might be processed in a region
of the brain that “reads” changing facial
properties, an area called the superior
temporal sulcus that is located at the
tops of the temporal lobes.
Jason
(Greek mythology) the husband of Medea and leader of the Argonauts who sailed in quest of the Golden Fleece

Waite worked with UBC prof Jason
Barton, Canada Research Chair in the
Neuropsychology of Vision and Eye
Movements, and investigators from
Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology.
study
applying the mind to learning and understanding a subject

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.
highly
to a great degree or extent; favorably or with much respect

“Face
perception is a highly complex visual
skill.
region
the extended spatial location of something

Exploring how the brain processes
judgments about facial beauty help us
identify the role of various regions of the
brain.”
movement
change of position that does not entail a change of location

Waite worked with UBC prof Jason
Barton, Canada Research Chair in the
Neuropsychology of Vision and Eye
Movements, and investigators from
Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology.
studied
produced or marked by conscious design or premeditation

Chris Waite, a third-year med student, has
studied how patients with prosopagnosia
– the inability to recognize familiar faces,
even family members, because of brain injury
– perceive facial attractiveness.
role
the actions and activities assigned to a person or group

Exploring how the brain processes
judgments about facial beauty help us
identify the role of various regions of the
brain.”
extract
remove, usually with some force or effort

Individuals with prosopagnosia
have trouble extracting and integrating
information they see in a face and rely on
other characteristics, such as hair, body
shape and gait to recognize people.
cord
a line made of twisted fibers or threads

The damaged area of the brain for
those with face-blindness is usually found
in the medial side of the occipital (low
back of the brain, near the spinal cord)
and temporal, or side lobes.
Sydney
the largest Australian city located in southeastern Australia on the Tasman Sea; state capital of New South Wales; Australia's chief port

The initiative, the first of its kind in
Canada, has brought together 14 young,
highly regarded post-doctoral fellows fresh
from studies across the world in places
like Barcelona, Chicago, Connecticut,
Manchester, London and Sydney.
tenth
position ten in a countable series of things

“We don’t know a tenth of what goes
on the brain,” says the 26-year-old.
rely
have confidence or faith in

Individuals with prosopagnosia
have trouble extracting and integrating
information they see in a face and rely on
other characteristics, such as hair, body
shape and gait to recognize people.
unite
join or combine

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.
exposure
the state of being exposed to harm

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
Arts Initiative Targets
Undergrad Teaching:
Attracts 14 highly regarded post-docs
By julie-ann ba ckhouse
This year, UBC arts students have a chance
to learn from young intellectuals and gain
exposure to leading interdisciplinary research
with the appointment of 14 new postdoctoral
teaching fellows in the arts faculty.
tops
of the highest quality

However, because attractiveness
is a social signal that helps us judge
continued on page 3
personality or mating potential, scientists
believed it might be processed in a region
of the brain that “reads” changing facial
properties, an area called the superior
temporal sulcus that is located at the
tops of the temporal lobes.
Connecticut
a New England state; one of the original 13 colonies

The initiative, the first of its kind in
Canada, has brought together 14 young,
highly regarded post-doctoral fellows fresh
from studies across the world in places
like Barcelona, Chicago, Connecticut,
Manchester, London and Sydney.
located
situated in a particular spot or position

However, because attractiveness
is a social signal that helps us judge
continued on page 3
personality or mating potential, scientists
believed it might be processed in a region
of the brain that “reads” changing facial
properties, an area called the superior
temporal sulcus that is located at the
tops of the temporal lobes.
continue
keep or maintain in unaltered condition

However, because attractiveness
is a social signal that helps us judge
continued on page 3
personality or mating potential, scientists
believed it might be processed in a region
of the brain that “reads” changing facial
properties, an area called the superior
temporal sulcus that is located at the
tops of the temporal lobes.
non
negation of a word or group of words

Because
attractiveness depends on non-changing
elements of facial structure – which in
Western society include a strong jaw, big
eyes and a straight nose – it was thought
that attractiveness might be processed in
this area.
page
one side of one leaf of a book or other document

However, because attractiveness
is a social signal that helps us judge
continued on page 3
personality or mating potential, scientists
believed it might be processed in a region
of the brain that “reads” changing facial
properties, an area called the superior
temporal sulcus that is located at the
tops of the temporal lobes.
perception
the process of becoming aware through the senses

“Face
perception is a highly complex visual
skill.
relate
give an account of

All inspiring questions that relate to
undergraduate experience and connect
to the west coast as the home of peaceful
protests and the birthplace of Greenpeace.
post
piece of timber or metal fixed firmly in an upright position

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
Arts Initiative Targets
Undergrad Teaching:
Attracts 14 highly regarded post-docs
By julie-ann ba ckhouse
This year, UBC arts students have a chance
to learn from young intellectuals and gain
exposure to leading interdisciplinary research
with the appointment of 14 new postdoctoral
teaching fellows in the arts faculty.
disorder
a condition in which things are not in their expected places

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
By Hilary Th omson
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder,
but according to research conducted by a
UBC medical student, eye candy fails to
find a sweet tooth in patients with a rare
disorder.
accord
concurrence of opinion

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
By Hilary Th omson
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder,
but according to research conducted by a
UBC medical student, eye candy fails to
find a sweet tooth in patients with a rare
disorder.
attract
exert a force on

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
Arts Initiative Targets
Undergrad Teaching:
Attracts 14 highly regarded post-docs
By julie-ann ba ckhouse
This year, UBC arts students have a chance
to learn from young intellectuals and gain
exposure to leading interdisciplinary research
with the appointment of 14 new postdoctoral
teaching fellows in the arts faculty.
essay
an analytic or interpretive literary composition

The study was the first of
its kind and earned Waite the American
Academy of Neurology Award for best
medical student essay.
convey
transmit or serve as the medium for transmission

Although
prosopagnosia patients cannot identify
faces, they can judge subtle facial clues,
such as a raised eyebrow or pursed lips that
express emotion and convey social cues.
outline
the line that appears to bound an object

“How can individuals change the
world?” asks Corrigall-Brown as she
outlines her recent research.
Manchester
a city in northwestern England

The initiative, the first of its kind in
Canada, has brought together 14 young,
highly regarded post-doctoral fellows fresh
from studies across the world in places
like Barcelona, Chicago, Connecticut,
Manchester, London and Sydney.
tool
an implement used to perform a task or job

The findings
may provide another assessment tool to help
clinicians localize areas of brain damage.
arch
a curved masonry construction for spanning an opening

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.
purse
a container used for carrying money and small personal items

Although
prosopagnosia patients cannot identify
faces, they can judge subtle facial clues,
such as a raised eyebrow or pursed lips that
express emotion and convey social cues.
lip
either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking

Although
prosopagnosia patients cannot identify
faces, they can judge subtle facial clues,
such as a raised eyebrow or pursed lips that
express emotion and convey social cues.
medical
relating to the study or practice of medicine

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
By Hilary Th omson
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder,
but according to research conducted by a
UBC medical student, eye candy fails to
find a sweet tooth in patients with a rare
disorder.
earn
acquire or deserve by one's efforts or actions

The study was the first of
its kind and earned Waite the American
Academy of Neurology Award for best
medical student essay.
studying
reading carefully with intent to remember

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.
subtle
difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze

Although
prosopagnosia patients cannot identify
faces, they can judge subtle facial clues,
such as a raised eyebrow or pursed lips that
express emotion and convey social cues.
rare
especially good, remarkable, or superlative

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.
faculty
an inherent cognitive or perceptual power of the mind

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
Arts Initiative Targets
Undergrad Teaching:
Attracts 14 highly regarded post-docs
By julie-ann ba ckhouse
This year, UBC arts students have a chance
to learn from young intellectuals and gain
exposure to leading interdisciplinary research
with the appointment of 14 new postdoctoral
teaching fellows in the arts faculty.
target
a reference point to shoot at

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
Arts Initiative Targets
Undergrad Teaching:
Attracts 14 highly regarded post-docs
By julie-ann ba ckhouse
This year, UBC arts students have a chance
to learn from young intellectuals and gain
exposure to leading interdisciplinary research
with the appointment of 14 new postdoctoral
teaching fellows in the arts faculty.
face
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.
eye
the organ of sight

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
By Hilary Th omson
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder,
but according to research conducted by a
UBC medical student, eye candy fails to
find a sweet tooth in patients with a rare
disorder.
personality
the complex of attributes that characterize an individual

However, because attractiveness
is a social signal that helps us judge
continued on page 3
personality or mating potential, scientists
believed it might be processed in a region
of the brain that “reads” changing facial
properties, an area called the superior
temporal sulcus that is located at the
tops of the temporal lobes.
earned
gained or acquired

The study was the first of
its kind and earned Waite the American
Academy of Neurology Award for best
medical student essay.
complex
complicated in structure

“Face
perception is a highly complex visual
skill.
academy
a learned establishment for the advancement of knowledge

The study was the first of
its kind and earned Waite the American
Academy of Neurology Award for best
medical student essay.
institute
set up or lay the groundwork for

Waite worked with UBC prof Jason
Barton, Canada Research Chair in the
Neuropsychology of Vision and Eye
Movements, and investigators from
Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology.
survey
determining opinions by interviewing people

In 2006, a web survey of 1,600 people
conducted jointly by a team from Harvard
and University College London suggested
that up to two per cent of people have
some degree of face-blindness.
peaceful
not disturbed by strife or turmoil or war

All inspiring questions that relate to
undergraduate experience and connect
to the west coast as the home of peaceful
protests and the birthplace of Greenpeace.
judgment
the act of assessing a person or situation or event

Exploring how the brain processes
judgments about facial beauty help us
identify the role of various regions of the
brain.”
determine
find out or learn with certainty, as by making an inquiry

The investigators’ wanted to determine
Catherine Corrigall-Brown has returned home to teach undergraduate students, and
continue her research, into social movements and activism.
illness
impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism

The
condition can result from trauma to the
head, illness such as encephalitis, or
inflammation of the brain, stroke, coma
or insufficient oxygen supply at birth.
stroke
a single complete movement

The
condition can result from trauma to the
head, illness such as encephalitis, or
inflammation of the brain, stroke, coma
or insufficient oxygen supply at birth.
Massachusetts
a state in New England; one of the original 13 colonies

Waite worked with UBC prof Jason
Barton, Canada Research Chair in the
Neuropsychology of Vision and Eye
Movements, and investigators from
Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology.
potential
existing in possibility

However, because attractiveness
is a social signal that helps us judge
continued on page 3
personality or mating potential, scientists
believed it might be processed in a region
of the brain that “reads” changing facial
properties, an area called the superior
temporal sulcus that is located at the
tops of the temporal lobes.
perceive
become aware of through the senses

Chris Waite, a third-year med student, has
studied how patients with prosopagnosia
– the inability to recognize familiar faces,
even family members, because of brain injury
– perceive facial attractiveness.
beauty
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.
web
an intricate network suggesting something that was formed by weaving or interweaving

In 2006, a web survey of 1,600 people
conducted jointly by a team from Harvard
and University College London suggested
that up to two per cent of people have
some degree of face-blindness.
reflection
the phenomenon of a wave being thrown back from a surface

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.
mate
a person's partner in marriage

However, because attractiveness
is a social signal that helps us judge
continued on page 3
personality or mating potential, scientists
believed it might be processed in a region
of the brain that “reads” changing facial
properties, an area called the superior
temporal sulcus that is located at the
tops of the temporal lobes.
depend
be determined by something else

Because
attractiveness depends on non-changing
elements of facial structure – which in
Western society include a strong jaw, big
eyes and a straight nose – it was thought
that attractiveness might be processed in
this area.
conduct
the way a person behaves toward other people

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
By Hilary Th omson
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder,
but according to research conducted by a
UBC medical student, eye candy fails to
find a sweet tooth in patients with a rare
disorder.
protest
a formal and solemn declaration of objection

All inspiring questions that relate to
undergraduate experience and connect
to the west coast as the home of peaceful
protests and the birthplace of Greenpeace.
suggest
make a proposal; declare a plan for something

In 2006, a web survey of 1,600 people
conducted jointly by a team from Harvard
and University College London suggested
that up to two per cent of people have
some degree of face-blindness.
characteristic
typical or distinctive

Individuals with prosopagnosia
have trouble extracting and integrating
information they see in a face and rely on
other characteristics, such as hair, body
shape and gait to recognize people.
element
a substance that cannot be separated into simpler substances

Because
attractiveness depends on non-changing
elements of facial structure – which in
Western society include a strong jaw, big
eyes and a straight nose – it was thought
that attractiveness might be processed in
this area.
technology
the practical application of science to commerce or industry

Waite worked with UBC prof Jason
Barton, Canada Research Chair in the
Neuropsychology of Vision and Eye
Movements, and investigators from
Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology.
university
an institution of higher learning that grants degrees

In 2006, a web survey of 1,600 people
conducted jointly by a team from Harvard
and University College London suggested
that up to two per cent of people have
some degree of face-blindness.
signal
any action or gesture that encodes a message

However, because attractiveness
is a social signal that helps us judge
continued on page 3
personality or mating potential, scientists
believed it might be processed in a region
of the brain that “reads” changing facial
properties, an area called the superior
temporal sulcus that is located at the
tops of the temporal lobes.
regard
the condition of being honored or respected

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
Arts Initiative Targets
Undergrad Teaching:
Attracts 14 highly regarded post-docs
By julie-ann ba ckhouse
This year, UBC arts students have a chance
to learn from young intellectuals and gain
exposure to leading interdisciplinary research
with the appointment of 14 new postdoctoral
teaching fellows in the arts faculty.
injury
physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident

Chris Waite, a third-year med student, has
studied how patients with prosopagnosia
– the inability to recognize familiar faces,
even family members, because of brain injury
– perceive facial attractiveness.
west
the cardinal compass point that is a 270 degrees

All inspiring questions that relate to
undergraduate experience and connect
to the west coast as the home of peaceful
protests and the birthplace of Greenpeace.
structure
a complex entity made of many parts

Because
attractiveness depends on non-changing
elements of facial structure – which in
Western society include a strong jaw, big
eyes and a straight nose – it was thought
that attractiveness might be processed in
this area.
change
become different in some particular way

Because
attractiveness depends on non-changing
elements of facial structure – which in
Western society include a strong jaw, big
eyes and a straight nose – it was thought
that attractiveness might be processed in
this area.
emotion
any strong feeling

Although
prosopagnosia patients cannot identify
faces, they can judge subtle facial clues,
such as a raised eyebrow or pursed lips that
express emotion and convey social cues.
include
have as a part; be made up out of

Because
attractiveness depends on non-changing
elements of facial structure – which in
Western society include a strong jaw, big
eyes and a straight nose – it was thought
that attractiveness might be processed in
this area.
cent
a fractional monetary unit of several countries

In 2006, a web survey of 1,600 people
conducted jointly by a team from Harvard
and University College London suggested
that up to two per cent of people have
some degree of face-blindness.
elements
violent or severe weather

Because
attractiveness depends on non-changing
elements of facial structure – which in
Western society include a strong jaw, big
eyes and a straight nose – it was thought
that attractiveness might be processed in
this area.
team
a cooperative unit

The research team studied eight
individuals with prosopagnosia, an
impairment also known as of face-blindness.
art
the creation of beautiful or significant things

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
Arts Initiative Targets
Undergrad Teaching:
Attracts 14 highly regarded post-docs
By julie-ann ba ckhouse
This year, UBC arts students have a chance
to learn from young intellectuals and gain
exposure to leading interdisciplinary research
with the appointment of 14 new postdoctoral
teaching fellows in the arts faculty.
shape
a perceptual structure

Individuals with prosopagnosia
have trouble extracting and integrating
information they see in a face and rely on
other characteristics, such as hair, body
shape and gait to recognize people.
judge
an official who decides questions before a court

However, because attractiveness
is a social signal that helps us judge
continued on page 3
personality or mating potential, scientists
believed it might be processed in a region
of the brain that “reads” changing facial
properties, an area called the superior
temporal sulcus that is located at the
tops of the temporal lobes.
information
knowledge acquired through study or experience

They wanted to know where the brain
processes visual information that adds up to
a judgment about facial attractiveness.
intellectual
of or associated with or requiring the use of the mind

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
Arts Initiative Targets
Undergrad Teaching:
Attracts 14 highly regarded post-docs
By julie-ann ba ckhouse
This year, UBC arts students have a chance
to learn from young intellectuals and gain
exposure to leading interdisciplinary research
with the appointment of 14 new postdoctoral
teaching fellows in the arts faculty.
newspaper
a daily or weekly publication with articles and advertisements

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.
superior
of high quality or performance

However, because attractiveness
is a social signal that helps us judge
continued on page 3
personality or mating potential, scientists
believed it might be processed in a region
of the brain that “reads” changing facial
properties, an area called the superior
temporal sulcus that is located at the
tops of the temporal lobes.
condition
a mode of being or form of existence of a person or thing

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.
skill
an ability that has been acquired by training

“Face
perception is a highly complex visual
skill.
Western
a film or novel about life in the western United States during the period of exploration and development

Because
attractiveness depends on non-changing
elements of facial structure – which in
Western society include a strong jaw, big
eyes and a straight nose – it was thought
that attractiveness might be processed in
this area.
severe
very harsh or strict, especially when dealing with others

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.
provide
give something useful or necessary to

The findings
may provide another assessment tool to help
clinicians localize areas of brain damage.
vision
the ability to see

Waite worked with UBC prof Jason
Barton, Canada Research Chair in the
Neuropsychology of Vision and Eye
Movements, and investigators from
Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology.
blind
unable to see

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.
fail
be unable

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
By Hilary Th omson
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder,
but according to research conducted by a
UBC medical student, eye candy fails to
find a sweet tooth in patients with a rare
disorder.
California
a state in the western United States on the Pacific

Catherine Corrigall-Brown is one of
them and has returned home to Canada
with a PhD from the University of
California, Irving.
nose
the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract

Because
attractiveness depends on non-changing
elements of facial structure – which in
Western society include a strong jaw, big
eyes and a straight nose – it was thought
that attractiveness might be processed in
this area.
fellow
a boy or man

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
Arts Initiative Targets
Undergrad Teaching:
Attracts 14 highly regarded post-docs
By julie-ann ba ckhouse
This year, UBC arts students have a chance
to learn from young intellectuals and gain
exposure to leading interdisciplinary research
with the appointment of 14 new postdoctoral
teaching fellows in the arts faculty.
active
characterized by energetic movement

“What role
do social movements play and why do
people stay active in them over time?”
gain
obtain

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
Arts Initiative Targets
Undergrad Teaching:
Attracts 14 highly regarded post-docs
By julie-ann ba ckhouse
This year, UBC arts students have a chance
to learn from young intellectuals and gain
exposure to leading interdisciplinary research
with the appointment of 14 new postdoctoral
teaching fellows in the arts faculty.
express
communicate beliefs or opinions

Although
prosopagnosia patients cannot identify
faces, they can judge subtle facial clues,
such as a raised eyebrow or pursed lips that
express emotion and convey social cues.
Chicago
largest city in Illinois

The initiative, the first of its kind in
Canada, has brought together 14 young,
highly regarded post-doctoral fellows fresh
from studies across the world in places
like Barcelona, Chicago, Connecticut,
Manchester, London and Sydney.
find
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.
raise
move upwards

Although
prosopagnosia patients cannot identify
faces, they can judge subtle facial clues,
such as a raised eyebrow or pursed lips that
express emotion and convey social cues.
help
give assistance; be of service

The findings
may provide another assessment tool to help
clinicians localize areas of brain damage.
bridge
structure allowing passage across a river or other obstacle

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.
wanted
desired or wished for or sought

They wanted to know where the brain
processes visual information that adds up to
a judgment about facial attractiveness.
birth
the time when something begins (especially life)

The
condition can result from trauma to the
head, illness such as encephalitis, or
inflammation of the brain, stroke, coma
or insufficient oxygen supply at birth.
add
join or combine or unite with others

They wanted to know where the brain
processes visual information that adds up to
a judgment about facial attractiveness.
continued
without stop or interruption

However, because attractiveness
is a social signal that helps us judge
continued on page 3
personality or mating potential, scientists
believed it might be processed in a region
of the brain that “reads” changing facial
properties, an area called the superior
temporal sulcus that is located at the
tops of the temporal lobes.
supply
circulate or distribute or equip with

The
condition can result from trauma to the
head, illness such as encephalitis, or
inflammation of the brain, stroke, coma
or insufficient oxygen supply at birth.
year
the period of time that it takes for a planet (as, e.g., Earth or Mars) to make a complete revolution around the sun

Chris Waite, a third-year med student, has
studied how patients with prosopagnosia
– the inability to recognize familiar faces,
even family members, because of brain injury
– perceive facial attractiveness.
familiar
a friend who is frequently in the company of another

Chris Waite, a third-year med student, has
studied how patients with prosopagnosia
– the inability to recognize familiar faces,
even family members, because of brain injury
– perceive facial attractiveness.
London
the capital and largest city of England

In 2006, a web survey of 1,600 people
conducted jointly by a team from Harvard
and University College London suggested
that up to two per cent of people have
some degree of face-blindness.
community
a group of people living in a particular local area

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.
finding
something that is discovered

The findings
may provide another assessment tool to help
clinicians localize areas of brain damage.
curious
eager to investigate and learn or learn more

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.
recent
of the immediate past or just previous to the present time

“How can individuals change the
world?” asks Corrigall-Brown as she
outlines her recent research.
address
the place where a person or organization can be found

Of the inaugural 14 new appointments,
Corrigall-Brown is one of nine teaching
first-year classes, addressing an area
of high enrolment.
member
anything that belongs to a set or class

Chris Waite, a third-year med student, has
studied how patients with prosopagnosia
– the inability to recognize familiar faces,
even family members, because of brain injury
– perceive facial attractiveness.
call
utter a sudden loud cry

The region
is called the fusiform face area.
nine
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one

Of the inaugural 14 new appointments,
Corrigall-Brown is one of nine teaching
first-year classes, addressing an area
of high enrolment.
department
a specialized division of a large organization

She is teaching in
collaboration with Prof. Neil Guppy,
head of the Department of Sociology.
continued on page 5
UBC REPORTS
T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O L UMB I A V O L U M E 5 3 | N U M B E R 1 0 | O C T O B E R 4 , 2 0 0 7
up to
busy or occupied with

They wanted to know where the brain
processes visual information that adds up to
a judgment about facial attractiveness.
degree
a specific identifiable position in a continuum or series

In 2006, a web survey of 1,600 people
conducted jointly by a team from Harvard
and University College London suggested
that up to two per cent of people have
some degree of face-blindness.
sweet
having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
By Hilary Th omson
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder,
but according to research conducted by a
UBC medical student, eye candy fails to
find a sweet tooth in patients with a rare
disorder.
leading
going or proceeding or going in advance; showing the way

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
Arts Initiative Targets
Undergrad Teaching:
Attracts 14 highly regarded post-docs
By julie-ann ba ckhouse
This year, UBC arts students have a chance
to learn from young intellectuals and gain
exposure to leading interdisciplinary research
with the appointment of 14 new postdoctoral
teaching fellows in the arts faculty.
coast
the shore of a sea or ocean

All inspiring questions that relate to
undergraduate experience and connect
to the west coast as the home of peaceful
protests and the birthplace of Greenpeace.
return
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

The investigators’ wanted to determine
Catherine Corrigall-Brown has returned home to teach undergraduate students, and
continue her research, into social movements and activism.
college
an institution of higher education

In 2006, a web survey of 1,600 people
conducted jointly by a team from Harvard
and University College London suggested
that up to two per cent of people have
some degree of face-blindness.
usually
under normal conditions

The damaged area of the brain for
those with face-blindness is usually found
in the medial side of the occipital (low
back of the brain, near the spinal cord)
and temporal, or side lobes.
learn
gain knowledge or skills

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
Arts Initiative Targets
Undergrad Teaching:
Attracts 14 highly regarded post-docs
By julie-ann ba ckhouse
This year, UBC arts students have a chance
to learn from young intellectuals and gain
exposure to leading interdisciplinary research
with the appointment of 14 new postdoctoral
teaching fellows in the arts faculty.
property
something owned

However, because attractiveness
is a social signal that helps us judge
continued on page 3
personality or mating potential, scientists
believed it might be processed in a region
of the brain that “reads” changing facial
properties, an area called the superior
temporal sulcus that is located at the
tops of the temporal lobes.
look at
look at carefully; study mentally

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.
chair
a seat for one person, with a support for the back

Waite worked with UBC prof Jason
Barton, Canada Research Chair in the
Neuropsychology of Vision and Eye
Movements, and investigators from
Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology.
eight
the cardinal number that is the sum of seven and one

The research team studied eight
individuals with prosopagnosia, an
impairment also known as of face-blindness.
home
where you live at a particular time

The investigators’ wanted to determine
Catherine Corrigall-Brown has returned home to teach undergraduate students, and
continue her research, into social movements and activism.
won
not subject to defeat

Her research and work
on social movements and activism won an
outstanding teaching award in the US.
class
a collection of things sharing a common attribute

Of the inaugural 14 new appointments,
Corrigall-Brown is one of nine teaching
first-year classes, addressing an area
of high enrolment.
straight
having no deviations

Because
attractiveness depends on non-changing
elements of facial structure – which in
Western society include a strong jaw, big
eyes and a straight nose – it was thought
that attractiveness might be processed in
this area.
people
any group of human beings collectively

Individuals with prosopagnosia
have trouble extracting and integrating
information they see in a face and rely on
other characteristics, such as hair, body
shape and gait to recognize people.
fresh
recently made, produced, or harvested

The initiative, the first of its kind in
Canada, has brought together 14 young,
highly regarded post-doctoral fellows fresh
from studies across the world in places
like Barcelona, Chicago, Connecticut,
Manchester, London and Sydney.
kind
having a tender and considerate and helpful nature

The study was the first of
its kind and earned Waite the American
Academy of Neurology Award for best
medical student essay.
lead
take somebody somewhere

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
Arts Initiative Targets
Undergrad Teaching:
Attracts 14 highly regarded post-docs
By julie-ann ba ckhouse
This year, UBC arts students have a chance
to learn from young intellectuals and gain
exposure to leading interdisciplinary research
with the appointment of 14 new postdoctoral
teaching fellows in the arts faculty.
raised
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position

Although
prosopagnosia patients cannot identify
faces, they can judge subtle facial clues,
such as a raised eyebrow or pursed lips that
express emotion and convey social cues.
best
having the most positive qualities

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.
report
to give an account or representation of in words

She is teaching in
collaboration with Prof. Neil Guppy,
head of the Department of Sociology.
continued on page 5
UBC REPORTS
T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O L UMB I A V O L U M E 5 3 | N U M B E R 1 0 | O C T O B E R 4 , 2 0 0 7
experience
the content of observation or participation in an event

All inspiring questions that relate to
undergraduate experience and connect
to the west coast as the home of peaceful
protests and the birthplace of Greenpeace.
low
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

The damaged area of the brain for
those with face-blindness is usually found
in the medial side of the occipital (low
back of the brain, near the spinal cord)
and temporal, or side lobes.
various
having great diversity or variety

Exploring how the brain processes
judgments about facial beauty help us
identify the role of various regions of the
brain.”
stay
continue in a place, position, or situation

“What role
do social movements play and why do
people stay active in them over time?”
result
something that follows as a consequence

The
condition can result from trauma to the
head, illness such as encephalitis, or
inflammation of the brain, stroke, coma
or insufficient oxygen supply at birth.
trouble
a source of difficulty

Individuals with prosopagnosia
have trouble extracting and integrating
information they see in a face and rely on
other characteristics, such as hair, body
shape and gait to recognize people.
want
the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable

They wanted to know where the brain
processes visual information that adds up to
a judgment about facial attractiveness.
hair
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss

Individuals with prosopagnosia
have trouble extracting and integrating
information they see in a face and rely on
other characteristics, such as hair, body
shape and gait to recognize people.
chance
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
Arts Initiative Targets
Undergrad Teaching:
Attracts 14 highly regarded post-docs
By julie-ann ba ckhouse
This year, UBC arts students have a chance
to learn from young intellectuals and gain
exposure to leading interdisciplinary research
with the appointment of 14 new postdoctoral
teaching fellows in the arts faculty.
society
an extended group having a distinctive cultural organization

Because
attractiveness depends on non-changing
elements of facial structure – which in
Western society include a strong jaw, big
eyes and a straight nose – it was thought
that attractiveness might be processed in
this area.
side
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

The damaged area of the brain for
those with face-blindness is usually found
in the medial side of the occipital (low
back of the brain, near the spinal cord)
and temporal, or side lobes.
gold
a soft yellow malleable ductile metallic element

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.
third
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole

Chris Waite, a third-year med student, has
studied how patients with prosopagnosia
– the inability to recognize familiar faces,
even family members, because of brain injury
– perceive facial attractiveness.
can
airtight sealed metal container for food or drink, etc.

The
condition can result from trauma to the
head, illness such as encephalitis, or
inflammation of the brain, stroke, coma
or insufficient oxygen supply at birth.
top
the upper part of anything

However, because attractiveness
is a social signal that helps us judge
continued on page 3
personality or mating potential, scientists
believed it might be processed in a region
of the brain that “reads” changing facial
properties, an area called the superior
temporal sulcus that is located at the
tops of the temporal lobes.
young
any immature animal

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
Arts Initiative Targets
Undergrad Teaching:
Attracts 14 highly regarded post-docs
By julie-ann ba ckhouse
This year, UBC arts students have a chance
to learn from young intellectuals and gain
exposure to leading interdisciplinary research
with the appointment of 14 new postdoctoral
teaching fellows in the arts faculty.
according
in agreement with

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
By Hilary Th omson
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder,
but according to research conducted by a
UBC medical student, eye candy fails to
find a sweet tooth in patients with a rare
disorder.
head
the upper part of the human body or the body in animals

The
condition can result from trauma to the
head, illness such as encephalitis, or
inflammation of the brain, stroke, coma
or insufficient oxygen supply at birth.
ask
make a request or demand for something to somebody

“How can individuals change the
world?” asks Corrigall-Brown as she
outlines her recent research.
cause
events that provide the generative force of something

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.
know
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a piece of information

“We don’t know a tenth of what goes
on the brain,” says the 26-year-old.
play
engage in recreational activities rather than work

“What role
do social movements play and why do
people stay active in them over time?”
bring
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

The initiative, the first of its kind in
Canada, has brought together 14 young,
highly regarded post-doctoral fellows fresh
from studies across the world in places
like Barcelona, Chicago, Connecticut,
Manchester, London and Sydney.
new
not of long duration

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
Arts Initiative Targets
Undergrad Teaching:
Attracts 14 highly regarded post-docs
By julie-ann ba ckhouse
This year, UBC arts students have a chance
to learn from young intellectuals and gain
exposure to leading interdisciplinary research
with the appointment of 14 new postdoctoral
teaching fellows in the arts faculty.
across
to the opposite side

The initiative, the first of its kind in
Canada, has brought together 14 young,
highly regarded post-doctoral fellows fresh
from studies across the world in places
like Barcelona, Chicago, Connecticut,
Manchester, London and Sydney.
mean
denote or connote

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.
strong
having strength or power greater than average or expected

Because
attractiveness depends on non-changing
elements of facial structure – which in
Western society include a strong jaw, big
eyes and a straight nose – it was thought
that attractiveness might be processed in
this area.
work
activity directed toward making or doing something

Waite worked with UBC prof Jason
Barton, Canada Research Chair in the
Neuropsychology of Vision and Eye
Movements, and investigators from
Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology.
such
of so extreme a degree or extent

Individuals with prosopagnosia
have trouble extracting and integrating
information they see in a face and rely on
other characteristics, such as hair, body
shape and gait to recognize people.
first
preceding all others in time or space or degree

The study was the first of
its kind and earned Waite the American
Academy of Neurology Award for best
medical student essay.
question
a sentence of inquiry that asks for a reply

All inspiring questions that relate to
undergraduate experience and connect
to the west coast as the home of peaceful
protests and the birthplace of Greenpeace.
American
of or relating to the United States of America or its people or language or culture

The study was the first of
its kind and earned Waite the American
Academy of Neurology Award for best
medical student essay.
have
possess, either in a concrete or an abstract sense

Chris Waite, a third-year med student, has
studied how patients with prosopagnosia
– the inability to recognize familiar faces,
even family members, because of brain injury
– perceive facial attractiveness.
big
above average in size or number or quantity

Because
attractiveness depends on non-changing
elements of facial structure – which in
Western society include a strong jaw, big
eyes and a straight nose – it was thought
that attractiveness might be processed in
this area.
world
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

The initiative, the first of its kind in
Canada, has brought together 14 young,
highly regarded post-doctoral fellows fresh
from studies across the world in places
like Barcelona, Chicago, Connecticut,
Manchester, London and Sydney.
read
look at and say out loud something written or printed

However, because attractiveness
is a social signal that helps us judge
continued on page 3
personality or mating potential, scientists
believed it might be processed in a region
of the brain that “reads” changing facial
properties, an area called the superior
temporal sulcus that is located at the
tops of the temporal lobes.
family
a group of people related to one another

Chris Waite, a third-year med student, has
studied how patients with prosopagnosia
– the inability to recognize familiar faces,
even family members, because of brain injury
– perceive facial attractiveness.
body
an individual 3-dimensional object that has mass

Individuals with prosopagnosia
have trouble extracting and integrating
information they see in a face and rely on
other characteristics, such as hair, body
shape and gait to recognize people.
means
how a result is obtained or an end is achieved

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.
might
physical strength

Because
attractiveness depends on non-changing
elements of facial structure – which in
Western society include a strong jaw, big
eyes and a straight nose – it was thought
that attractiveness might be processed in
this area.
known
apprehended with certainty

The research team studied eight
individuals with prosopagnosia, an
impairment also known as of face-blindness.
believe
accept as true; take to be true

However, because attractiveness
is a social signal that helps us judge
continued on page 3
personality or mating potential, scientists
believed it might be processed in a region
of the brain that “reads” changing facial
properties, an area called the superior
temporal sulcus that is located at the
tops of the temporal lobes.
near
near in time or place or relationship

The damaged area of the brain for
those with face-blindness is usually found
in the medial side of the occipital (low
back of the brain, near the spinal cord)
and temporal, or side lobes.
case
an occurrence of something

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.
together
in contact with each other or in proximity

The initiative, the first of its kind in
Canada, has brought together 14 young,
highly regarded post-doctoral fellows fresh
from studies across the world in places
like Barcelona, Chicago, Connecticut,
Manchester, London and Sydney.
high
being at or having a relatively great or specific elevation

Of the inaugural 14 new appointments,
Corrigall-Brown is one of nine teaching
first-year classes, addressing an area
of high enrolment.
may
thorny shrub of a small tree having white to scarlet flowers

P H OTO : MA R T I N D E E
By Hilary Th omson
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder,
but according to research conducted by a
UBC medical student, eye candy fails to
find a sweet tooth in patients with a rare
disorder.
good
having desirable or positive qualities

CCAE
Gold
best newspaper
2007
4
Bridging
communities
7
UBC’s UNITE D
WAY RESE ARCH
5
CITI ZEN
JOU RNALISM
3
curious
george ROBOT
Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find
out how and where we process attractiveness
UBC researchers are studying brain damage that causes “face blindness” which in severe cases means individuals can’t recognize their
own reflection.

Created on Mon Jan 09 04:15:53 EST 2012

Blind to Beauty: Researchers look at a rare condition to find out how & where we process Atractiveness

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