Why humans can recognise faces and read

A team led by Kolkata-born scientists has discovered a special sweet spot in the eye plays a crucial role in humans being able to to focus on computer screens and also read, an ability which is unique to Homo sapiens.
Pallava Bagla reports.
Illustration: Uttam Ghosh

A team led by Kolkata-born scientists has found that a special sweet spot in the eye called 'fovea' plays a crucial role in humans being able to to focus on computer screens and also read, an ability which is unique to Homo sapiens.

The findings decipher the mechanism that lets humans reading this text, recognising faces, enjoying colours, say the scientists.

Raunak Sinha and Mrinalini Hoon describe themselves as a 'scientist couple' who push the frontiers of neuroscience to better understand vision.