Hyperthymestic Syndrome, By Hyperthymesia Essay - 1995 Words

Hyperthymesia, also previously known as hyperthymestic syndrome, is a condition in which an individual possesses a superior autobiographical memory, meaning he, or she, can recall all or the vast majority of personal experiences and events in their life. This term, â€Å"hyperthymesia, derives its name from the Greek words thymesis, translating to remembering, and hyper, meaning excessive. People with hyperthymesia can remember roughly every day of their lives in near flawless detail, as well as community events that hold some sort of personal significance to them. Those affected by hyperthymesia often portray their memories as uncontrollable associations, for instance, when they encounter a date, they see a vivid depiction of that day in their heads (Patihis 11). Recall occurs without uncertainty or conscious effort, differing from other types of superior memory as participants with this ability achieve autobiographical remembering without the seeming use of mnemonic skills. It is vital to draw a distinction between those with hyperthymesia and those with other forms of outstanding memory, who typically use mnemonic or comparable rehearsal strategies to memorize long strings of independent data. Memories recalled by hyperthymestic individuals are inclined to be personal, autobiographical accounts of both significant and ordinary events in their lives. This extensive and highly uncommon memory does not derive from the use of mnemonic strategies, evidenced by the fact that