Another hyperthymestic story: Brad Williams

 

With the interest generated not only by this site, but on the internet in general on Jill Price, the woman who could remember every detail of her life since she was 14 years old, comes the story of Brad Williams, of Wisconsin. Remember Price, who compared the syndrome to having a movie reel playing by every memory she had when she was presented with certain stimuli. Williams however, seems to be a little more in control, or less afflicted by the syndrome. In fact it only became apparent to his family when they heard the story of Price, who was then only known to the public as AJ.

Like Price, the part the researchers are most impressed with is the speed at which they recall the events. Researchers give them a day, and ask them about the events and immediately Williams can rattle off a series of events in great detail, indicating there is almost no calculation going on, it is just readily available in their mind. Researchers have been running images on Price and Williams, and another man in Ohio and have concluded that some structures in the prefrontal cortex are substantially larger in hyperthymestics. The prefrontal cortex sits at the front of the brain and has been associated with complex thinking, not learning or memory.