26 March 2006

Unprecedented Memory Memorialized

The brain is incredible.  The human capacity for perception, reason, logic -- the sheer processing power inside our skulls -- is, well, mind-boggling.  But as incredible an organ as is the human brain, it is fallible.  Even the "geniuses" we'll hear from at TED2007 have imperfect brains.  Take, for example, human memory -- we all forget things.  Even Ken Jennings ultimately lost on Jeopardy (but, sadly, not until he had already dispensed with my brother Josh).

The certain fallibility of human memory has been the life's work of James McGaugh, a brain researcher at the University of California at Irvine.  Which is precisely why, according to a recent story on ABCNews.com, Dr. McGaugh is so intrigued by a woman called AJ who came to him seeking an explanation for her monumental recall.  For any given date over her lifetime, AJ can remember the day of the week, the weather, personal and historical events, you name it.  Her memory so exceeds that of any individual's memory documented to date, that AJ has left researchers stumped.  They have found no explanation for her incredible recall.  In hopes of better understanding AJ's database like brain, the UC Irvine researchers begin a comprehensive set of brain scans on AJ in the coming months.  I certainly look forward to reporting what the researchers discover.  That is, of course, if I can remember to check back on the story.

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