Final answer:
Damage to the IT cortex impairs facial identification via visual information, known as prosopagnosia. Individuals with this condition use other sensory cues, like voice or unique features, to identify people.
Step-by-step explanation:
Damage to the Inferior Temporal (IT) cortex impairs facial identification based solely on visual information. This condition, known as prosopagnosia or face blindness, can be a significant challenge for those affected. Despite the impairment in visually recognizing faces, individuals with prosopagnosia often learn to use other cues to identify people, such as the sound of a person's voice, unique facial features like a mole, or distinctive hair color.
The IT cortex is involved in the visual processing of complex objects like faces, and damage to this area can result in the inability to recognize even the most familiar faces, including close family members or one's own face. While prosopagnosia can stem from injury or be congenital, it specifically affects visual facial recognition and does not impede the person’s ability to recognize others through alternative sensory information.