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Superior Autobiographical Memory (Hyperthymesia)

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almyki from Maryland, USA Since: Jan, 2001
#1: Jan 9th 2011 at 2:48:53 AM

Hyperthymesia: Courtesy Link

I saw a 60 Minutes feature on this subject (mentioned in the link, even), and before that read an article on the subject way back when. Basically, having absolute perfect memory of every moment in your life since youth... Name a date, and someone with superior autobiographical memory will be able to tell you the weather outside, what they wore that day, what they did, how they felt, the color of the walls, and recall any of these details in an instant. In the show, the people featured with this type of memory all shared that recalling memories was like "I just see it, it's just there, in my mind...", automatic.

The topic really fascinated me, and I was amazed that such a phenomenon could actually exist. The people all acted perfectly normal, social, had lives outside of their 'quirk'. Many of them said they like having their 'perfect memory'. It's common for them to 'flip through their memories' and organize them mentally constantly. For example, when brushing their hair in the morning, they'd take the current date and review the same date for every previous year as far back as they can remember.

But there seems to be some downsides, too. Remembering the good means also remembering the bad, and just recalling an emotional time can bring the feelings back almost as strongly as when it happened. One or two mentioned how sometimes it felt like living surrounded by amnesiacs. All participants seemed to display mild but functional OCD-tendencies, such as organizing wardrobes and shoes meticulously.

I have two questions up for discussion on this subject.

First, do you think you would like to have had superior autobiographical memory? Or do you feel that having a normal-functioning memory capacity is better for yourself?

Second, what do you think about all or the majority of human beings having this 'perfect memory'? Would it be an overall improvement, would it not change anything, or could it somehow be harmful? Would you want everyone to have perfect memory?

<3 ali

My iMood
Metalhead467 Since: Feb, 2012
#2: Jan 9th 2011 at 7:51:38 AM

I don't think that a perfect photographic memory is something that I would like to have. Because it really does mean that you'll keep the bad stuff with you forever. With most people, memory dulls the pain, makes you forget how bad things were, lets you move on.

If I had photographic memory. I'd remember in graphic detail the time I had boiling coffee poured all over me when I was two; I'd remember breaking my foot; I'd remember with perfect clarity every single migraine I've ever had, every time I felt depressed, the last eleven months of my life, which I'd prefer to just put behind me and move on from. I'd rather not have all the bad things from my past hanging over me, always.

For the second question, I feel like that probably wouldn't be for the best. It would be hard to socialize with someone you had a bad first impression of, for one; no matter how cool of a person they might turn out to be, you'd still have that memory of your first meeting with you, coloring your perception of the guy, whereas a normal person would eventually forget. Everyone would remember every bad thing that someone else did to them, and it would be more difficult to move past traumatic periods in our lives if time didn't dull the pain.

RawPower Jesus as in Revelations from Barcelona Since: Aug, 2009
Jesus as in Revelations
#3: Jan 9th 2011 at 10:12:26 AM

I'd love to have it. It would be so damn useful a skill at College... and for social life. If it's genetic, I want eggs that carry it.

'''YOU SEE THIS DOG I'M PETTING? THAT WAS COURAGE WOLF.Cute, isn't he?
Tongpu Since: Jan, 2001
#4: Jan 9th 2011 at 11:03:12 AM

I wouldn't want the specific condition of which you speak, but I would want a better memory than I currently have. My mother, for instance, has normal autobiographical memory for the most part, but can recall verbatim conversations she has had. That would be useful. Remembering everything would not be.

Metalhead467 Since: Feb, 2012
#5: Jan 9th 2011 at 11:18:25 AM

I think Tongpu describes something much more desirable than perfect photographic memory.

rmctagg09 The Wanderer from Brooklyn, NY (Before Recorded History) Relationship Status: I won't say I'm in love
The Wanderer
#6: Jan 9th 2011 at 12:36:33 PM

While my long term memory isn't quite to that level, it is pretty close. To be honest, it's kind of a double-edged sword. The same memory that gives me my skillset also makes me remember with almost perfect clarity humiliating incidents from my childhood as if they happened yesterday. All it takes is just a word or an action and I'm taking a rather hellish stroll down memory lane.

Hugging a Vanillite will give you frostbite.
RawPower Jesus as in Revelations from Barcelona Since: Aug, 2009
Jesus as in Revelations
#7: Jan 9th 2011 at 1:12:27 PM

I have a very precise memory, but not quite that good. I can remember a Wham Line from years ago, whose author forgot it. I'm especially good at spotting contradictions and blind spots in stories...

'''YOU SEE THIS DOG I'M PETTING? THAT WAS COURAGE WOLF.Cute, isn't he?
SomeSortOfTroper Since: Jan, 2001
#8: Jan 9th 2011 at 2:05:09 PM

I wish we could have a crowner: what would you prefer, Hyperthymesia, an Eidetic Memory or mnemonist abilities?

I wonder if Hyperthymesia also works with internal memory. Can you remember what you thought that day?

edited 9th Jan '11 2:05:48 PM by SomeSortOfTroper

Bur from Flyover Country (Living Relic) Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
#9: Jan 9th 2011 at 2:26:37 PM

My memory's completely shitty. I mean really really shitty. I have ONE memory from preschool, and just a bare handful for each grade in elementary school. Middle school isn't any better. Freshman and sophomore years of high school practically don't exist. College is a lot better, but it's also a lot more recent...

Given that, I would LOVE to experience the opposite extreme.

edited 9th Jan '11 2:27:28 PM by Bur

storyyeller More like giant cherries from Appleloosa Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: RelationshipOutOfBoundsException: 1
More like giant cherries
#10: Jan 9th 2011 at 3:17:14 PM

^ Isn't that normal?

edited 9th Jan '11 3:17:24 PM by storyyeller

Blind Final Fantasy 6 Let's Play
carbon-mantis Collector Of Fine Oddities from Trumpland Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Married to my murderer
Collector Of Fine Oddities
#11: Jan 9th 2011 at 3:26:10 PM

I remember reading an interview with someone who was diagnosed with this. According to her, the constant mental activity made it so she couldn't concentrate on anything, and she was constantly under large amounts of stress. A case of Blessed with Suck, I'd personally imagine.

purplefilms Since: Dec, 1969
#12: Jan 20th 2011 at 7:24:15 AM

Well the interesting thing is that I saw the Marilu Henner portion on the website "www.autobiographicalmemory.info" and it really is fascinating. Cool site btw. Anyway, to answer your question -

Eventhough it was mentioned that it's not an inconvenience, i just tend to think that a person may come along who is obssessive compulsive and on top of that if they had hyperthymesia it'd just drive them and their loved ones crazy?

Plus think of activity - could a certain amount of brain activity cause some sort of issue? I mean, how wrinkled can your brain get? I'd imagine they have issues with microwaves and cell phones as well - all of that energy :) cool

RawPower Jesus as in Revelations from Barcelona Since: Aug, 2009
Jesus as in Revelations
#13: Jan 20th 2011 at 8:33:41 AM

person may come along who is obssessive compulsive and on top of that if they had hyperthymesia it'd just drive them and their loved ones crazy?

edited 20th Jan '11 8:33:52 AM by RawPower

'''YOU SEE THIS DOG I'M PETTING? THAT WAS COURAGE WOLF.Cute, isn't he?
Ultrayellow Unchanging Avatar. Since: Dec, 2010
Unchanging Avatar.
#14: Jan 20th 2011 at 8:47:24 AM

That's gotta come out of another part of the brain, reducing other bits and skills...no, I wouldn't want this, and it wouldn't help humanity.

Except for 4/1/2011. That day lingers in my memory like...metaphor here...I should go.
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