Exceptional memory
Hyperthymesia has both enhanced autobiographical and episodic memory[1] There is an important characteristic of hyperthymesia: People with the syndrome have an unusual form of eidetic memory to remember as well as recall any specific personal events or trivial details, including a date, the weather, what people wore on that day, from their past, almost in an organized manner.
Because she is unable to "turn off" her retrieval mode, the smallest associations may bring on detailed recollections of "AJ"'s past.
These deficits, along with anomalous lateralization and "AJ"'s obsessive–compulsive tendencies, point to a neurodevelopmental frontostriatal disorder common in autism, OCD, ADHD, Tourette's syndrome, and schizophrenia.
[6] Marvin Minsky argued in his book The Society of Mind that the reported cases of eidetic memory should be considered as "unfounded myth[s]".
Since the champions can win interesting prizes, it should attract people who can beat those tests easily by reproducing visual images of the presented material during the recall.
The classic study of the subject's memory documents her writing out poetry in a foreign language, of which she had no prior knowledge, years after seeing the original text.
[15] In 1965, this prompted the thirty-one year old Magnani to leave his childhood home of Pontito, a decision which was deeply troubling as he had decided not to return.
It is unclear what this illness was exactly but, symptoms included high fever, weight loss, delirium, and possibly even seizures.
Over time, he grew an obsession with painting the town in which he had grown up in; as famed psychologist Oliver Sacks noted in 1987, Magnini seemed "possessed".
This garnered much attention by researchers such as Bob Miller, who suggested that this work could reveal the accuracy, distortions, and inventions of Magnani's memory.
His visual sensory information was stored long-term, which he was able to recall more than a quarter of a century later in intricate detail.
[16] Sacks went on to say: "he could seemingly reproduce with almost photographic accuracy every building, every street, every stone of Pontito, far away, close up, from any possible angle.
[19] Savant syndrome is elaborate abilities (including memory) in specialized areas such as a hobby or event, or a certain type of information.
[24] Each digit for Tammet has color, shape, and emotion, allowing him to memorize sequences of numbers or perform large calculations within a matter of seconds.
Similar to DeBlois and Paravicini, an autistic savant named Leslie Lemke has displayed extraordinary musical talent.
Researchers have proposed two hypotheses to explain how autistic individuals may develop advanced skills;[29] the first is the obsession with constricted areas of interest (a common symptom of autism) and central coherence.
No structural differences have been found in the brains of accomplished mnemonists, who have achieved superior memory with the practiced use of mnemonic devices.
Using mnemonics for memory recall may also have played a part in Akira Haraguchi's world record citation of mathematical pi.
Associating colors or words to letters or sounds can allow certain forms of synesthetes to learn new languages, lyrics, or detailed information quite easily.
[39] When seeking to learn novel categories, synesthetes tend to use their unusual experiences as mnemonic devices, aiding them in their memory process.
[40] Furthermore, synesthetic imagery can work as a cognitive tool in aiding those with synesthesia to memorize and store language through their own personal coding.
This ability was discovered during a work meeting where Shereshvskii was scolded for not taking notes until he was able to perfectly recite the conversation.
It is important to note that "S" is commonly considered a mnemonist as well, given that he applied his synesthesia as an aid toward acquiring exceptional memory.
His extreme case of synesthesia, causing highly detailed and recallable memory traces, made understanding abstract concepts not based on sensory and perceptual qualities very difficult for him.
[47] His personal life is described as being lived in a "haze", and eventually he was confined to a mental institution because of the burden of his exceptional abilities.
Brown and Kulik, who coined the term, found that many highly emotional memories can be recalled with very accurate details, even when there is a delay after the event.
[51] A study conducted by Sharot et al. (2006) showed that the rating of vividness of terrorist attack on 11 September 2001, by the participants is related to the physical location of the person when the event happened.
Research indicates that it is this consolidation process in which the AC plays an assisting role (there is no evidence that it aids in retrieval).
This adrenaline, as well as cortisol (adrenocortical hormone) serve to influence an organism's response to stress, but also may aid future responding by enhancing declarative memory of them.
[53] Having a long-lasting extremely vivid and detailed memory for negative events can cause a great deal of anxiety, as seen in post traumatic stress disorders.
