Today we began looking at memory storage. This was highlighted by some significant case studies of extraordinary memories. However, some of those cases of extreme memory abilities came with sever disadvantages. Such is the case with Stephen Wiltshire an autistic savant who has an unbelievable photographic memory. I have attached a link to the YouTube video if you happened to miss this. As you watch the video consider whether you believe its possible that his extraordinary memory is at all associated or a product of his autism. are
Stephen Wiltshire
In addition to Stephen we also watch brief interview with Mary Lou Henner. In the interview she discussed her unique super autobiographical memory (only one of 12 people in the world identified with this condition). This condition is now referred to as hyperthymesia. The video segment highlighted Mary Lou's ability to recall just about any event from her life, from the exciting details of a first date to the mundane facts about the weather and what she was wearing. If you would like to see a more in depth depiction of super autobiographical memory I have posted the entire 60 minutes episode. Here they put 6 individuals, identified with a similar memory to Mary Lou, to the test.
Endless Memory Part 1:
Endless Memory Part 2:
If you'd like to read Mary Lou's book on how the average person can improve their own memory click on the link: "Total Memory Makeover: Uncover Your Past, Take Charge of Your Future."
I watched the video about people with super autobiographical memories and found it very interesting but had a question. Could those people be as accurate in remembering historical dates and events that they didn't live through? A couple of them said that their memory was so impressive because they used that muscle a lot, so could they be equally as efficient in learning events that they haven't experienced themselves? Especially because it seems as though emotions don't play a huge part in their memories because they even remember the boring days?
ReplyDeleteThe ability of Stephen Wiltshire is amazing, although it is unfortunate that he was given this gift with the restrictions of others, it still is something to be inspired by. I believe that due to his autism he was given this "talent" because as I researched information on autism I learned that it affects information processing by altering nerve cell and how their synapses connect and organize. So to me I think that maybe, due to the altered connection of cells, his brain was wired giving him increased ability in some areas of the brain and decreased ability in others. Does anyone else agree?
ReplyDeleteI love hearing stories about autistic people with amazing talents like Stephen Wiltshire. I babysit a severely autistic boy and I am constantly wondering what exactly he is thinking because it is so hard for him to express his thoughts for himself. After learning about Stephen and other cases like Kim Peek, I have begun to wonder if maybe the boy I watch may have a special talent or ability he just hasn't discovered yet. I realize not all people with autism are considered "savants", but I do wonder if there is an area the boy I watch has special abilities in. I look at his ways of behaving and thinking much differently now after learning about all the autism cases in class and in Blink.
ReplyDeleteI found the 60 minutes video on people with hyperthymesia especially interesting. It was helpful in explaining how these people retrieve their personal memories of events. However,how do these people encode information? For example, when asked about the earthquake in San Francisco, not only did they know the date, but Marilu also remembered that the World Series was held on the same day. Does her memory of this event have anything to do with an interest she might have had in baseball or does she remember everything significant that was in the media that day?
ReplyDeleteI agree Melven. There are different forms of autism, and they all have their restrictions, including social skills. Dr. Vernon Smith, an economics professor at Champman University, suffers from Asperger's Syndrome. He believes that his lack of social skills actually benefitted him to win a Nobel Prize in 2002. He said he didn't feel the social pressure to do things the way other people do them professionally. So even though Autism and other types of brain disorders are unfortunate, people still manage to do incredible things.
ReplyDeleteI find it amazing how these people remember so many things, like what the weather was on any given day or what they ordered at a restaurant, but am interested in what determines which details they remember. In the first video, Louise, recalled certain details from the day the interviewer asked her about except what she got for lunch, but could remember what she ate the night before for dinner. Do researchers know what determines which details are stored in these people's memories(like recalling dinner one night but forgetting the next day's lunch)? Is there any way to find out?
ReplyDeleteI think the most unusual thing about these people with a super memory seem to be completely normal otherwise. I start to wonder if they could use their gift to benefit society in some way. I mean, it seems that as of right now, they're just normal everyday people. But their memories are as strong as computer's, except they have the ability to critically think.
ReplyDeleteStephen Wiltshire is absolutely increadible. I can't believe he looked at Rome overhead once and remembered everything perfect, down to the number of windows on each building. It's just a shame that he while he has this great gift, he is also held back by his autism. However, I have a question, if he didn't have autism, do you think he would've had this amazing ability to see something for the first time and draw it completely accurate?
ReplyDeleteWhile I can definitely see being able to remember everything being a remarkable gift, I also assume that it could be, sometimes, a torturous curse. While nine times out of ten it can work to your advantage, you also have to remember every bad day you have ever had in great detail. When Mary Lou compares her memory to a dvd's scene selection capabilities, It makes me wonder if she can simply just skip over the bad days or if she is eternally thinking about them. What do you guys think?
ReplyDeleteI feel that the ability for these memory aficionados to skip memories, just like their ability to remember them in great detail, is more a matter of awareness and choice than hard biology. For example, we all have 'that' embarrassing moment from elementary school or junior high we thought we would never forget, and I'm sure for a week or more we thought about it very frequently. But as new experiences came into our minds, we chose to focus more on the new information than 'that' old scene. I would posit that, for these people, having such vivid memories at their fingertips allows them to more vividly remember lessons learned, but they can still exist in the present fully :)
DeleteI think the idea of a super memory is super fascinating! I think when Mary Lou said that she exercised her memory it revealed to everyone that we can improve our memory. I think it's easy to say that people are just born with that ability but the journalist we talked about in class taught himself and I'm sure we all could. I wonder if it ever really becomes a struggle for these people because they can't forget things they would rather forget. Either way I think it's very interesting and a great thing to look at especially as we learn about studying and our own capacity to memorize!
ReplyDeleteStephen Wiltshire's photographic memory is amazing! It is absolutely incredible how he can draw all of his work from his memory-and accurately too! I think his extraordinary memory could be a product of his Autism, but I cannot be for certain. His Autism could have caused nerve cells to connect differently to other parts of his brain enhancing his memory. All I know is that his work is incredible and I wish I could afford to purchase some of it. (:
ReplyDeletei think it is really cool what he does and how he can do an exact replica of the buildings! i remember it 7th grade we had an amazing actor in our school. He also had autism and he could memorize his whole line in one night! he was in a newspaper article saying how he was brillant at memorizing lines for plays and such. i think people with autism are have a special talent that they excel in. It makes all of them unique and i find it really interesting!
ReplyDeleteThe ability to remember so much is unfathomable. How on earth can they remember every single day of their life so quickly? I do wonder, though, if they can do the same with things they've read or learned in school. Everyone with this "perfect memory has the ability to remember what they did or what happened but I do wonder if they could remember something like what page their homework was on for a certain day or what the answer to the tenth question on their midterm was. Wouldn't that be helpful...
ReplyDeleteThese people are so lucky! I'm often very forgetful and so I liked the part where they try to help others increase their chances of remembering things. It's so incredible to see these people remember things that happened over 30 years ago like it was yesterday. What I like about this most is it shows that people with certain disabilities have their own speial talents that make them unique.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how Stephen Wiltshire can draw what he saw from the airplane. He only took one look at it and drew it on paper. It's like he only needs to trace it on paper. I can't imagine drawing without having a picture presented. And it's impressive how Stephen Wiltshire did it just by looking at it once and his drawings turned out to accurate. I think his brain is wired a little differently causing him to have a good photogenic memory.
ReplyDelete-shishiswag7
These people have incredible abilities! While it's an amazing gift, I don't think I would ever want to be able to remember things that well. I like being able to revisit places i've been to before and have those "Oh yeah! I remember when that happened!" moments without them always being readily available to me (and there are some things I'm glad i've forgotten, like those awkward junior high years!) I think we all take our memory for granted though, it's such an important part of our everyday lives that we don't even think about!
ReplyDeleteThese videos are remarkable and showcase each individuals' talents superbly. These clips remind me of the Big Bang Theory and how Dr. Sheldon Cooper has such an incredible memory as well, though it makes me wonder why he couldn't learn chines faster while trying to complain about the meal he ordered. This would be an incredible ability to have because then you would never forget those precious moments in your life that mean the most to you, from your first kiss, learning to drive and that hilarious joke someone told the other day.
ReplyDeleteI agree I don't think I would like to remember everything that has ever happened to me. I think it's good to be able to forget somethings and then be able to experience them all over again, almost like its the first time. Our memory also helps us be happy and I don't think I would like to remember perfectly ever single painful experience.
ReplyDeleteI think that having a super memory can be a disadvantage. This is because you would remember all the bad things along with the good. I wouldn't want that. Although an incredible memory would make things a lot easier. There is even the possibility, I think, to live in your memories. If the memories are so perfect, could youtre'll what's real and whats not?
ReplyDelete