Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dallas the Phallus on December 21, 2010 at 10:14am

I've heard of this before. It is very interesting, but I think I'm just about the polar opposite of this. I can't recall my childhood all that well. Sure, I know bits and pieces, but most of it seems inaccessible to me. I don't remember the day to day stuff very well, but I remember my feelings I had back then very well.  The brain is an interesting organ.

Permalink Reply by Matt on December 21, 2010 at 3:49pm

yeah... this could be such a great thing for the world... learning how to harness the power of this type of memory and use it. of course, I'm sure there are obvious disadvantages as well, such as past relationship breakups, etc. that one would remember vividly.

Permalink Reply by Dallas the Phallus on December 21, 2010 at 3:54pm

Yes, there does seem to be some emotional evolutionary benefits to being able to forget things. But having a great memory would do wonders for our political situation, I'm sure, in that it seems that a gullible public is made so by their inability to remember the facts.

 

If you're interested in the brain or mind, have you joined my group, The Thinking Ape?

Permalink Reply by Matt on December 21, 2010 at 4:39pm

hmm... no, I have not. And, yes, I'm really interested in psychological aspects of people and society.

Permalink Reply by Dallas the Phallus on December 21, 2010 at 4:47pm

Me too. Thanks for joining the group.

Permalink Reply by R Allan Worrell on February 23, 2012 at 10:13pm

I watched the clip and couldn't help but wonder if it is a genetic trait, and if Marilou's brothers possessed the same "gift".   With seven Billion people on the planet, there must be many others around the world who can do the same thing but have not been interviewed about it (like Marilou Henner).

If it is an advantage, then natural selection would select it over time.  The fact that most people can't do it makes me think there must be some disadvantage to it.  I saw the original interview with the six others last year and nearly all of them said there was a down side to having such a great memory...  One woman said she wishes she could forget her divorce, the death of a parent, etc.   Two sides of a coin I guess.

Al W.