Here's a story about brain researchers in Southern California who are investigating a rare group of people who can remember practically every day of their lives. Turns out most are left-handed. Click to read the details.
May 12, 2008
Lefties With Super Memory?
Here's a story about brain researchers in Southern California who are investigating a rare group of people who can remember practically every day of their lives. Turns out most are left-handed. Click to read the details.
9 comments:
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Very interesting! This definitely doesn't apply to me though, I have a terrible memory, and yes, I am left handed!
ReplyDeleteWow, that was quite an intriguing article. I was glad to read about an important benefit that lefties seem to have over those who are right handed!
ReplyDeleteWhile I don't necessarily have a strong autobiographic memory exactly indiciative of hyperthymestic syndrome, I have a similar condition but with a faulty timeline. I remember ridiculous amounts of personal history but the memories are always out of order.
ReplyDeleteLike Jill Price, I do have issues with rote memorization and they directly affect my college coursework. I wonder if that issue is one directly in relation to hyperthymestic syndrome or if perhaps it is somehow related to being left-handed. Are there lefties other than me who struggle with rote memorization? It would be great if there were a spin off study on that aspect.
This is interesting... I have a good memory but nothing on this level. It is a pity that the article didn't go into much detail of the mechancics, but I remember reading something in an old issue of New Scientist on memory that was discussing whether forgetting certain events would be advantageous in an evolutionary sense or not.... I can't remember much else (unlike Jill Price) but would be worth looking up if anyone is interested.
ReplyDeletePlease does anyone know of any basic research I could look at. I am trying to put together a very small research project for an exam and I want to do it on memory and left/right handedness.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
will learning to write with my left hand give me the same advantages that a left handed person already has?
ReplyDeleteVinay - It depends on what kind of advantages you are looking for. Some experts suggest that people should practice writing with the non-dominant hand in order to stimulate synapses and improve communication between the two halves of the brain. Whether or not this will also help develop various mental or artistic skills is not clear.
ReplyDeleteHI, I'm lefthanded and always have had a poor memory. I'm a musician and lately I,'e been making a real effort to improve my right hand techniques on the keyboard and have noticed a big improvement in my memory for the words of the songs that I sing. Over the last two years I,'e been observing myself in respect of recall and yes there is a difference, so this may contradict some theories on this subject but I'm pleased with the improvement and indeed I am typing this message with both hands, something I wouldn't be able to do two years ago. The reason is I'm trying to do as much with my right hand as possible, as I hope it will continue to have a positive effect on my memory.
ReplyDeleteI am left handed and I do have hyperthymestic syndrome, its sometimes good, sometimes bad....my husband calls me his walking calendar....
ReplyDelete