“Behavioral and Neuroanatomical Investigation of Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM).”, 2012-05-29 (; backlinks; similar):
A single case study recently documented one woman’s ability to recall accurately vast amounts of autobiographical information, spanning most of her lifetime, without the use of practiced mnemonics ( et al 2006). This phenomenon has sparked interest in the psychological and neurobiological mechanisms underlying such extraordinary memory capabilities.
The current study reports findings based on 11 participants expressing this same memory ability, now referred to as Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM). Participants were identified and subsequently characterized based on screening for memory of public events. They were then tested for personal autobiographical memories as well as for memory assessed by laboratory memory tests. Additionally, whole-brain structural MRI scans were obtained.
Results indicated that HSAM participants performed statistically-significantly better at recalling public as well as personal autobiographical events as well as the days and dates on which these events occurred. However, their performance was comparable to age-matched and sex-matched controls on most standard laboratory memory tests.
Neuroanatomical results identified 9 structures as being morphologically different from those of control participants. The study of HSAM may provide new insights into the neurobiology of autobiographical memory.
The study of HSAM may provide new insights into the neurobiology of autobiographical memory.