The Boy Who Can't Forget
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The Boy Who Can't Forget
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http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-boy-who-cant-forget/4od This was on TV this week. The chap remembers "everthing". He is able to recall the events of practically every day of his li
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The Boy Who Can't Forget
posted at 28/9/2012 3:37 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1216
First: 19/4/2010 Last: 19/6/2013 |
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-boy-who-cant-forget/4od This was on TV this week. The chap remembers "everthing". He is able to recall the events of practically every day of his life, allegedly. He can recall the day of the week for each day he is challenged with any day from his life. That can be done quite easily. What is more challenging is how he remembers the specifics of the day. Did you watch it? Do you buy it? Is it possible to remember everything? I lose my keys almost every day.... |
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Re: The Boy Who Can't Forget
posted at 28/9/2012 3:53 PM BST
on bmj.com
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*Moderator*
Posts: 1497
First: 7/4/2011 Last: 19/6/2013 |
I haven't seen it yet DundeeChest - but I might catch up with it at the weekend. I like to think I have a better memory for things than others - but usually for insignifcant things, like what someone said or did. You seem to at least remember that you lose your keys each day! |
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Re: The Boy Who Can't Forget
posted at 28/9/2012 4:20 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 3059
First: 27/3/2012 Last: 13/6/2013 |
It does seem miraculous but everything is possible & there are many examples of this kind. Our human brain is very complex in structure & most advanced than a supercomputer. We do know a little about the functioning of brain. |
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Re: The Boy Who Can't Forget
posted at 28/9/2012 6:26 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 499
First: 12/7/2010 Last: 11/6/2013 |
There was an episode in House about such a case in which the patient remembers everything that happens in her life. [Spoiler] House eventually diagnoses the patient to have OCD, her obsesion being remembering everything! |
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Re: The Boy Who Can't Forget
posted at 28/9/2012 7:05 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1216
First: 19/4/2010 Last: 19/6/2013 |
Have you seen the US Cop Procedural drama "Unforgettable". The lead in that has the same syndrome - she can remember everything, for ever. The hook is that she walks around the scene in her memories, and picks up things she didn't "notice" the first time. I think it must be a curse - there are plenty of things I've done in my life that I'd rathr forget....
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Re: The Boy Who Can't Forget
posted at 29/9/2012 1:05 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 5
First: 29/9/2012 Last: 8/1/2013 |
Brain circuitry works on a “use it or lose it” paradigm.
The acquisition of new memories is either link to strong emotional content that impress events into our long term memory (eg we learn the quickest the subjects that we find more to our liking) or is the product of repetitive use of the circuitry involved in that particular memory (ie recall process); there are some very interesting insights into this processes in VS Ramachandram book’s phantoms in the brain.
It is unlikely that someone would be constantly recalling every past event in order maintaining that particular brain circuitry, or would feel strongly about every single minor occurrence as to allow those instances to impress into that persons memory
The existence of eidetic memory hasn’t been prove, there are nevertheless individuals with remarkable recall capacities and mnemonic aids to help them along; I would be sceptic as to the existence of perfect recollection.
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Re: The Boy Who Can't Forget
posted at 2/10/2012 10:51 AM BST
on bmj.com
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*Moderator*
Posts: 1497
First: 7/4/2011 Last: 19/6/2013 |
Wed Editor of the BMJ, David Payne has written a blog on the programme: http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2012/10/01/david-payne-the-boy-who-cant-forget/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+bmj%2Fblogs+%28Latest+BMJ+blogs%29&g=widget_default Would you want to be able to remember everything? Or is it sometimes good to forget? It's really interesting how our brains all work differently and choose to edit out certain details as time goes on. Jill Price who also appears in the documentary has an excellent memory but it seems to make her miserable. |
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Re: The Boy Who Can't Forget
posted at 2/10/2012 11:12 AM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1343
First: 13/4/2010 Last: 19/6/2013 |
I used to be able to remember the minute to minute details of, for example, a great two week holiday I had had perhaps 15 or 20 years beforehand (in my early teens) - I did this up to my early 30s then lost it slowly. Now my memory of childhood and adolescence is probably as sketchy as anyone approaching middle age. It's true what they say about cognitive decline after 40 - every single person I know over 40 acknowledges it. My wife now teases me that I'm like a Primary 1 pupil as I often can't remember a 3 part instruction she has given me. My excuse is that I now have to do reserve the best of my failing memory for my professional work so losing my keys (I'm with you there Dundee Chest!) is trivial by comparison. |
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Re: The Boy Who Can't Forget
posted at 2/10/2012 1:17 PM BST
on bmj.com
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Posts: 1216
First: 19/4/2010 Last: 19/6/2013 |
I think the memory loss comes earlier - I'm 36 and notice that I'm not nearly as sharp as I was when I was 30, never mind 25. And I have presbyopia, which is another post, another time.... |
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