How do I know if I have HSAM?
As hyperthymesia is a rare ability, there is currently no formal way of diagnosing it. Some research suggests that people with hyperthymesia have hyperactivity in certain parts of their brain. Doctors could potentially, therefore, assess whether a person has HSAM by taking an MRI scan while they undergo a memory test.
Does Marilu Henner have HSAM?
Actress Marilu Henner, best known for her role as Elaine Nardo in the hit sitcom Taxi, has a highly superior autobiographical memory (HSAM), a rare condition shared by only 100 people worldwide.
How common is HSAM?
I can do that. Pasternak, now 23, is currently the youngest person with Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM), a rare condition that only around 60 people in the world are known to have.
How do I get tested for HSAM?
Diagnosing HSAM Scientists use brain imaging tests such as MRIs and electroencephalograms to diagnose and study memory in people with HSAM. Tests are also done to help measure memory. One of the most common is the autobiographical memory test.
Is Unforgettable based on a real person?
Q: “Unforgettable” wasn’t based on you, but the character has the same condition. I’ve heard it called Superior Autobiographical Memory, hyperthymesia. A: “It’s called highly superior autobiographical memory, or HSAM.
What famous person has hyperthymesia?
actress Marilu Henner
The most famous is probably actress Marilu Henner, who showed off her stunning recall of autobiographical minutiae on “60 Minutes” a few years ago. What makes this condition, known as hyperthymesia, so fascinating is that it’s so selective.
Is there an archived version of the HSAM?
In an effort to keep DHS.gov current, the archive contains outdated information that may not reflect current policy or programs. This page provides access to archived versions of the HSAM. The current version of the HSAM is also available.
What’s the average score for a person with HSAM?
She got 9 out of 10, the average score for people with HSAM. The average score for those without HSAM is 2 out of 10. People who have HSAM have different means of recalling dates. Pasternak describes her memory like a Candy Land board.
How are people with HSAM able to recall dates?
People who have HSAM have different means of recalling dates. Pasternak describes her memory like a Candy Land board. In her mind, she sees each month as a different colored square; June is green, August is golden yellow, November is dark red. The months connect to form a path, weaving back to February 2005, when she had her first HSAM memory.
Who is the youngest person in the world to have HSAM?
I can do that. Pasternak, now 23, is currently the youngest person with Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM), a rare condition that only around 60 people in the world are known to have. Give her any date between 2005 and present day, and she will tell you what day of the week it was and everything she did that day in extraordinary detail.
