As I get older, I find I miss things more and more in my short-term memory, like, damn, where did I lay my keys down. Normal, right? My wife says so, and when she spaces something, her "brain is too full."
What she says ISN'T as normal is when I describe a day or event or similar very specifically. I've always had a photographic memory, if that's the best way to label it. It's certainly not infallible, but I surprise myself with the long-term recall sometimes. I might guess my long-term memory is better than average, based on the reaction I sometimes get.
Still, it's not near the level of Marilu Henner, who's said to be one of just a few people (12 documented, according to one report) diagnosed with Superior Autobiographical Memory.
I've always been fascinated with "brain stuff," even if I don't understand a lot of it. The whole thing about "we only use 10 percent of our brain's capacity" ... well, that blows my mind. Movies like Bradley Cooper's "Limitless," of Leonardo DiCaprio's "Inception," Scarlett Johansson's "Lucy," or even "Wanted" with James McEvoy and Morgan Freeman.
Freeman's character, in "Wanted," had no idea what it might look like if a human being ever was able to use 100 percent of their brain capacity. Would it be a good thing? Maybe self-destructive? Would it unlock a lot of things we currently have no actual answers for, such as "the after-life," or aliens in the universe?
Huge topic. Anyone else spend more of their time than they ought to wondering about this stuff? Happy Friday!
The 60 Minutes piece, about Marilu Henner's memory - (
New Window )
Heard some wild stories about her and Tony Danza, her and Judd Hirsch. Gotta love those redheads.
Myth - ( New Window )
I don't understand how people can still believe that shit.
Sea. Coffee and MY brain hasn't kicked in yet
Secretariat’s heart was 4X’s the size of an average horse- does that mean horses are only using 25% of their heart capacity?
On Taxi, Marilu was smokin'!
True. Sorry for derailing by being pedantic.
Related to the horse comment, though- these folks like Henner show what’s possible much the way Secretariat did- but it’s only because they are different- they’re mutants.
It isn’t possible for those lacking the hardware.
Another could repeat any musical piece on the piano by ear.
Marilu Henner is amazing with her recall. The brain is one pretty amazing piece of equipment. I can barely get my shoes on the right feet.
I'm just a moron about dates and events. I'll probably need to do a calculation using my birth year to tell you how old I'll be on my next birthday...
Ask me anything about my life in general from 6 to 25 and I'll remember where I was, who said it and where I heard it. I will also give you a long backstory on top of everything.
So much happened during those years: School years came and went, graduations, proms, boobs, football games, hanging out with friends, learning to drive, busting my ass off for meaningless tests. I can recall exact dates for some weird reason, dates that I once impatiently counted down until. Say, if May 17th rolls around, I will get a thought in my head "wasn't this date significant to me at one point when I was younger"?
Plus that was OFF of Route 9. Cedar Hill Road.