Hyperthymesia

Hyperthymesia also known as Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory Syndrome is a rare condition characterized by the ability to recall a number of details about one's personal life. People with hyperthymesia recall events in their lives with extraordinary accuracy and detail such as exact dates and specific events from many years ago. This condition was first described in 2006 and has been the subject of interest in both the scientific community and the media. Unlike normal memory where memories fade over time or are influenced by suggestion the memories of a person with hyperthymesia are vivid and detailed. From a neuroscientific perspective research suggests that the areas of the brain involved in autobiographical memory such as the temporal lobe and caudate nucleus are structurally or functionally different in people with hyperthymesia. However the exact causes of this condition are not yet understood and remain an active area of research.