Published on 12, July, 2020
I've not Googlerated this so I'm starting from quite a low point of knowledge.
I know that we can tend to have very good memory in certain areas and I know about the autistic savant.
So, what do you know about how our memories work and why?
Mainly though, what is your memory like?
What do you remember and what do you not so well?
I have an autistic friend and he can quote back to me the day of the week, date and year a lot of events happened - small events, things like the day we went on a day trip somewhere over the whole of his life - he's 63.
I don't have that kind of gift but I have realised in recent times that my memory is quite unusual.
I do remember being in the pram and then the pushchair.
However, what I remember really well is places, events in my life and people and the things that people say, going back all 6 decades.
I can mentally walk through every room of the places I've lived in during my life and even where the furniture is.
How about you?
My memory has always been exceptional from a young age. In school despite hating being there I was able to remember all my teachers and what they said. It made homework really easy. If I read a book I can remember it with ease, usually I'm able to picture it like the pages are photographs.
If I go somewhere I can remember the way to the place and everything that was there. I can picture this too. It's like having a huge detailed map in my head.
I can remember lyrics to songs, people's faces and names, movies I've watched, books I've read including the dialogue...
I've always found it easy to retain my memories and can access them as easily as loading up files on my computer.
The downside to this is that I've got a lot of trauma in my life, my sister committed suicide and I've been in that position myself since and the negative memories are also easy to recall and it can be really depressing because I relive it all over again.
I've noticed as well with some memories I can hear familiar sounds or smell familiar smells from the said memory....The brain is such an interesting thing it really is remarkable.
I can while if I make the intent to do so or there is a high emotional charge.