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.

woman remembers everything since teen

Imagine every detail, of every hour, of every day, of every year, since you were 14. Useful? Annoying? Unusual? Interesting? Well, this has been Jill Price’s life since she was 14. Price considers it a curse instead of a gift since she is unable to not remember things. Very detailed memories such as what time she awoke, what she ate, who she met is in her brain and can be triggered by songs, smells, or locations.

Price described the condition as a split screen television, one side showing what is currently going on, the other a whirlwind of memories that she cannot hold back. The condition, called hyperthymestic syndrome, and is extremely rare with only 5 other confirmed cases, and 50 possibles. Price says the condition has afflicted her with depression because she remembers everything, which means every bad decision, insult and embarrassment.  A researcher commented on her extraordinary ability, “you can give her a random day years ago, and in a few seconds she can tell you what day it was, what she did, and key events of the day.” Price kept a diary from age 10-34 and scientists use the diary of how she remembered them now against how she put them down years ago.

This is an amazing story but I would be a little skeptical that she has just not read her diary over and over again and simply memorizing the events that way, however I haven’t viewed the actual research so I won’t be a skeptic.

Man hypnotizes self before op

Alex Lenkei chose to use the mind instead of drugs as anesthetic. Using self hypnosis Alex claims he was able to block out all of the pain from the surgery while being fully aware. The surgeon David Llewelyn-Clark had no qualms over the unusual request.

However, before you try this on yourself from some internet self help book, Lenkei has been a registered hypnotist since age 16. Throughout the surgery Lenkei said he felt deeply relaxed and there was a anasthesiologist on hand the entire time in case Lenkei’s plan did not go as well as he intended.

Wow. now only if UFC fighters could do this.

Full story here