The Hare and the Tortoise

Researchers at the University of Glasgow have found that older people take longer than younger people to recognise a person’s face.

Perhaps we should not be surprised by this as it is consistent with the evidence from the rest of our bodies. For example, when we are older we can’t run as quickly as we could when we were younger, our physical strength deteriorates and our reaction times diminish.

However, what sets the brain apart from other parts of the human body is the way in which our accumulated wisdom compensates for the decline in speed and agility. We may not be as quick as we were, but sometimes speed is not what is required – it may be smartness over speed, brains over brawn!

Arguably therefore, the brain is the one part of the body where the tortoise really can beat the hare!