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Crook & West 1990

Names and Faces

Memorize 6 names associated with 6 faces in 20 seconds, then identify each name. Test of episodic memory.

You will see 6 people with their names for 20 seconds. Memorize the associations. Then, for each face, choose the correct name from 4 options.

Note: this is among the most frustrating cognitive problems reported by seniors — forgetting the names of recent acquaintances.

What does this game test?

Memorising name-face associations tests associative episodic memory — the brain's ability to bind two pieces of information (a face and a name) into a single retrievable unit. It is a particular form of memory: it depends almost exclusively on the hippocampal structure in the medial temporal lobe, a region known as the first affected in Alzheimer's disease.

The Crook & West 1990 study showed that forgetting the names of recent acquaintances is the most frustrating cognitive problem reported by seniors — more frustrating than forgetting where they put their keys or missing an appointment. It has high ecological validity: what it tests is relevant to everyday life.

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Scientifically verified sources

Based on scientific research

Nume si fete is a digital adaptation of clinically validated neuropsychological tests. Below you will find the official sources underpinning the methodology, along with international and Romanian medical institutions you can consult for a professional assessment.

📚 Studies and clinical validation

The original scientific papers and validation studies that demonstrate this paradigm measures what it claims to measure.

🌍 Recommendations from international medical institutions

Global organisations (NIH, Mayo Clinic, Alzheimer's Association, WHO, Lancet) that recommend cognitive training as part of a healthy routine for older adults. Direct links to official documents.

🇷🇴 Clinical assessment in Romania

If low scores recur, speak with a doctor. Here is where you can seek specialist advice in Romania — the only national Alzheimer's NGO, the relevant ministry, university neurology clinics, and accredited medical universities.

Important: This game is informational and educational. It is not a medical diagnostic tool. For a clinical assessment, consult a neurologist or psychiatrist. Repeatedly low scores are worth discussing with your GP as an indicator (similar to weighing yourself at home), not as a diagnosis.