Woman who cannot recognise anyone's voice but Sean Connery's - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

waichingliu81 · 10-30-2008, 10:37 AM

Thu 30 Oct 11:15 AM
The only voice she knows: Sean Connery

Sir Sean Connery's Scottish brogue is one of film's most distinctive voices, but for one British woman diagnosed with a rare condition it's the only voice she can recognise.

Phonagnosia is normally linked to those who have suffered a stroke or brain damage. However a 60-year-old woman, known only as KH, is the first known case of someone born with the condition.

She is unable to recognise anyone's voice, including those of family members, and has to use a system of code words to identify callers.

The woman underwent a series of tests at the University College London to work out if she could pick out the tones of famous people. She failed to identify Joanna Lumley and David Beckham among others, but instantly recognised the iconic tones of Connery.

Dr Brad Duchaine, who's been studying the case after KH contacted a science magazine, said, "Voice recognition may not seem as important as face recognition, given that failing to recognise someone in front of you can cause much more social anxiety than not recognising them over the phone. Yet we rely on voice recognition in our day-to-day lives, to identify people on the phone or those speaking on the radio."

http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/30102008/...connery-0.html

TripperFan · 10-30-2008, 02:30 PM

I've heard of other cases like this. It sure is strange how our brain works!

I'm sure if it were ever to happen to me, I'd recognize James Earl Jones' voice forever! I love his voice.

*Pleasant Tomorrow* · 10-30-2008, 04:13 PM

Oh, I know why. He scared her into it. Sean Connery isn't afraid to smack a lady, no sir.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-Xj3N-IYbU

TJL · 10-30-2008, 06:04 PM

She doesn't recognize voices of people she knows?

What do voices sound like to her?

That is strange.

catlover79 · 10-30-2008, 06:08 PM

WOW!!

catlover79 · 10-30-2008, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TripperFan

I've heard of other cases like this. It sure is strange how our brain works!

I'm sure if it were ever to happen to me, I'd recognize James Earl Jones' voice forever! I love his voice.

"Cathie, I am your father."

AB · 10-30-2008, 07:22 PM

That certainly is strange.

TripperFan · 10-30-2008, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

"Cathie, I am your father."

Mufasa My Hero!!!

(That, or I'm Luke Skywalker and you're Darth Vadar)!!!

InspectorExstead · 10-31-2008, 12:28 AM

that's reaaaaally weird. never heard of anything like this before.

TJL · 10-31-2008, 01:21 AM

I'm still trying to wrap my mind around this...

So the voice of someone like say her sister sounds exactly the same as her brother?

That's amazing.

I'm going to lie down now. My head hurts.

Hollow · 10-31-2008, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJL

I'm still trying to wrap my mind around this...

So the voice of someone like say her sister sounds exactly the same as her brother?

That's amazing.

I'm going to lie down now. My head hurts.

i think other voices don't necessarily sound the same to her, but she can't link them to her memory. no idea what would make sean connery so special though.

Schmoopie · 10-31-2008, 01:42 AM

That is totally bizzare, but I bet he'd be flattered if he knew about this!

Andrea

TripperFan · 10-31-2008, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by safety pin

i think other voices don't necessarily sound the same to her, but she can't link them to her memory. no idea what would make sean connery so special though.

That's exactly it. It happens in the memory area of the brain - only instead of visual, it's an auditory defect.

The brain is amazing. I know when I was at my worst over the summer, I would forget what I had done 3 mins. before but can remember stuff vividly from years ago. I'd have to write everything down in order to remember it and even then, sometimes when I looked at what I had written, I couldn't recognize my own writing or the fact that I had written it.

I'm surprised that I didn't post the same thing several times in threads actually. Drove my friends nuts with the same question over and over again.

Hopefully she'll recover from it with some therapy. If not, for Christmas, someone should buy her a set of Connery DVDs!

catlover79 · 10-31-2008, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TripperFan

Mufasa My Hero!!!

(That, or I'm Luke Skywalker and you're Darth Vadar)!!!

ekkostar · 10-31-2008, 03:45 PM

This thread wouldn't be complete without You the man now, dog!

10-30-2008, 10:37 AM	#1
waichingliu81 debbie allen Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2006 Location: london, england, UK Posts: 4,347	Woman who cannot recognise anyone's voice but Sean Connery's Thu 30 Oct 11:15 AM The only voice she knows: Sean Connery Sir Sean Connery's Scottish brogue is one of film's most distinctive voices, but for one British woman diagnosed with a rare condition it's the only voice she can recognise. Phonagnosia is normally linked to those who have suffered a stroke or brain damage. However a 60-year-old woman, known only as KH, is the first known case of someone born with the condition. She is unable to recognise anyone's voice, including those of family members, and has to use a system of code words to identify callers. The woman underwent a series of tests at the University College London to work out if she could pick out the tones of famous people. She failed to identify Joanna Lumley and David Beckham among others, but instantly recognised the iconic tones of Connery. Dr Brad Duchaine, who's been studying the case after KH contacted a science magazine, said, "Voice recognition may not seem as important as face recognition, given that failing to recognise someone in front of you can cause much more social anxiety than not recognising them over the phone. Yet we rely on voice recognition in our day-to-day lives, to identify people on the phone or those speaking on the radio." http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/30102008/...connery-0.html

10-30-2008, 02:30 PM	#2
TripperFan In God's Arms Now Forum Star Join Date: Sep 14, 2003 Location: Heartbreak Ridge Posts: 12,086	I've heard of other cases like this. It sure is strange how our brain works! I'm sure if it were ever to happen to me, I'd recognize James Earl Jones' voice forever! I love his voice.
	__________________ If I don't see you in this world, I'll meet you in the next one.....don't be late James Marshall Hendrix Voodoo Chile The Forum Legend formerly known as TripperFan "religion is for people who are afraid of hell--spirituality is for people who have been through hell"---anonymous

10-30-2008, 04:13 PM	#3
Pleasant Tomorrow Member Forum Addict Join Date: Feb 19, 2003 Location: New York Posts: 69,525	Oh, I know why. He scared her into it. Sean Connery isn't afraid to smack a lady, no sir. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-Xj3N-IYbU
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10-30-2008, 06:04 PM	#4
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	She doesn't recognize voices of people she knows? What do voices sound like to her? That is strange.
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10-30-2008, 06:08 PM	#5
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	WOW!!
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10-30-2008, 07:22 PM	#7
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,428	That certainly is strange.

10-31-2008, 12:28 AM	#9
InspectorExstead Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Oct 29, 2001 Location: The Golden State Posts: 12,902	that's reaaaaally weird. never heard of anything like this before.
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10-31-2008, 01:21 AM	#10
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	I'm still trying to wrap my mind around this... So the voice of someone like say her sister sounds exactly the same as her brother? That's amazing. I'm going to lie down now. My head hurts.

10-31-2008, 01:42 AM	#12
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	That is totally bizzare, but I bet he'd be flattered if he knew about this! Andrea
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10-31-2008, 03:45 PM	#15
ekkostar Coffee, Tea & Larroquette! Senior Member Join Date: Apr 16, 2005 Posts: 1,077	This thread wouldn't be complete without You the man now, dog!
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