Comments on: Fact of the Day: The woman who can remember everything http://www.explainstuff.com/2009/04/14/fact-of-the-day-the-woman-who-can-remember-everything/ Interesting Short Science Articles on science, health, technology, medicine. Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:54:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Paul http://www.explainstuff.com/2009/04/14/fact-of-the-day-the-woman-who-can-remember-everything/comment-page-1/#comment-36 Paul Tue, 12 May 2009 20:47:46 +0000 http://www.explainstuff.com/?p=78#comment-36 I don't thinnk she can remember the number of cars and the type of cars that passed her on a particular day. I think they are way tooo common. But as the guy who wrote this mentions of some common triggers like songs, smells etc..... so if such thing like she smelt something unique on a daily walk and then if she smells the same smell today while doing something she might remember how many cars passed her while she smelt it in the past..... just my conclusion. But it's got to be soooooo confusing that way! I wonder how she differentiates between past and present! I don’t thinnk she can remember the number of cars and the type of cars that passed her on a particular day. I think they are way tooo common. But as the guy who wrote this mentions of some common triggers like songs, smells etc….. so if such thing like she smelt something unique on a daily walk and then if she smells the same smell today while doing something she might remember how many cars passed her while she smelt it in the past….. just my conclusion. But it’s got to be soooooo confusing that way! I wonder how she differentiates between past and present!

]]> By: Andy Echevarria http://www.explainstuff.com/2009/04/14/fact-of-the-day-the-woman-who-can-remember-everything/comment-page-1/#comment-33 Andy Echevarria Mon, 11 May 2009 23:02:08 +0000 http://www.explainstuff.com/?p=78#comment-33 Interesting post. I do have my doubts, however. Can she really remember EVERY detail of her life, every single moment that she's ever lived? I mean, I'm no James Randi, but I'd love to test her myself. But then again how would I be able to prove that, say, on July 3, 1954, as she was eating dinner and watching the evening news, she could recall every word the broadcaster said? Or that later, on her way to the grocery store, as she crossed the street, she remembered that there were five cars that passed her--two Hondas and three Fords? Nonetheless, the article got me to think about how--I saw this on the TV the other day--scientists might someday be able to come up with a pill which could completely obliterate one's memory. Now I don't know if this will ever happen in my lifetime, if ever, but remember that only a hundred years ago the idea of someday sending someone to the moon seemed utterly ridiculous. The implications of such a "forgetting pill"? How about dropping it in poor Richard's drink to make him forget he's your husband and have him never have him return? Or taking the pill just to forget that you've got $25,000 in debt? And if thinking of using it on our enemies and on terrorists, sounds like a good idea--as long as they don't use it on us first. Everyone would then forget about 911, the Holocaust, etc. And remember that if we lose our memory, we lose the ability to remember the wrongs we've committed in the past--thus making ourselves liable to repeat those very same mistakes in the future. In any case, it's fascinating what science can accomplish--for better and for worse. And as far as the lady is concerned--if she indeed can remember every detail of her life, that's quite remarkable. That to me sounds like a freak of nature. There are many cases of those in our vast universe, aren't there? Interesting post.

I do have my doubts, however. Can she really remember EVERY detail of her life, every single moment that she’s ever lived? I mean, I’m no James Randi, but I’d love to test her myself. But then again how would I be able to prove that, say, on July 3, 1954, as she was eating dinner and watching the evening news, she could recall every word the broadcaster said? Or that later, on her way to the grocery store, as she crossed the street, she remembered that there were five cars that passed her–two Hondas and three Fords?

Nonetheless, the article got me to think about how–I saw this on the TV the other day–scientists might someday be able to come up with a pill which could completely obliterate one’s memory. Now I don’t know if this will ever happen in my lifetime, if ever, but remember that only a hundred years ago the idea of someday sending someone to the moon seemed utterly ridiculous.

The implications of such a “forgetting pill”? How about dropping it in poor Richard’s drink to make him forget he’s your husband and have him never have him return? Or taking the pill just to forget that you’ve got $25,000 in debt?

And if thinking of using it on our enemies and on terrorists, sounds like a good idea–as long as they don’t use it on us first. Everyone would then forget about 911, the Holocaust, etc.

And remember that if we lose our memory, we lose the ability to remember the wrongs we’ve committed in the past–thus making ourselves liable to repeat those very same mistakes in the future.

In any case, it’s fascinating what science can accomplish–for better and for worse.

And as far as the lady is concerned–if she indeed can remember every detail of her life, that’s quite remarkable. That to me sounds like a freak of nature. There are many cases of those in our vast universe, aren’t there?

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