Imagine being able to remember everything you’ve ever heard, seen, or learned. Sounds pretty amazing, right? What if I told you there was a hidden cost? This is the real-life story of Solomon Shereshevsky, a human being who dealt with this double-edged sword his entire life.
I recall reading about Shereshevsky before but that article didn't draw much focus to the downsides. Looking it up now, I don't think I'd want any part of that epic memory. Here's one troubling titbit: "Carrying on a conversation while eating an apple was almost unthinkable, because both activities generated waves of conflicting impressions" (https://medium.com/young-coder/memory-lessons-from-a-man-who-couldnt-forget-4e5d9465d57e)
As much as I'd love a photographic memory on paper, I often have enough trouble switching off my "regular" brain that tends to have a running "to do" / "to stress out about" list at all times of the day. Burdening it with inescapable memories of every ltitle thing that's ever happened? Hard pass!
The more I learn about the downside, the more I realize one superpower humans can use is to forget (or compartmentalize) things. Synesthesia seems to eliminate this as a possibility.
While not as intense, the actress/singer Marilu Henner has this ability. Remembers everything that ever happened in her life down to the day of week and approximate time. It’s one of the abilities I think I’d like most right behind teleportation.
It's always fascinating to me how things, once brought to our attention, pop up again. I always pick up a book at the airport bookstore and a few weeks ago it was Michelle Richmond's Marriage Pact. I realized only after reading it that I actually follow her work here on Substack. I loved the book and decided to get another of hers from the library this week - The Year of Fog. It's a novel that includes a lot of fascinating information about memory and time. And in it, she mentions/describes Shereshevsky.
I have synesthesia. Most flavors I taste also come with impressions of colors, shapes, and textures. Mint ice cream to me is also rounded and smooth, low?, and concave. I don't see a color for that one, only shape, texture, and placement. Sometimes impressions don't make sense, like why is it low? Because my brain says that's essential to mint ice cream flavor.
I don't think my memory is any better than anyone else's, but my memories are visually vivid and I can recall a lot of details about the way things looked. I don't so much remember sounds, though, and if I don't see instructions, I won't remember them as well as if I see them.
I've learned to mostly not get distracted by it, but sometimes I have to stop and fully experience my favorites. I can really geek out on some ripe peaches! Brains are amazing!
Thanks for sharing this! I'm definitely fascinated by one sense leaping over into another. I have noticed that if I eat something, I can taste bitter/umami at the very back/side of my tongue, and this sort of... hurts... too. Sensory inputs need not work one particular way for everyone all the time!
This is really cool. I didn't know there were actually people with complete total recall. But yeah I can definitely see how that would be awful and beautiful at the same time.
In fairness, I'm not sure how total it is, but I understand that the amount of information a person who is truly experiencing synesthesia is AN AWFUL LOT, and it can be crazy overwhelming. Maybe I can chalk this one up to yet one more thing I thought I wanted, but actually don't!
I recall reading about Shereshevsky before but that article didn't draw much focus to the downsides. Looking it up now, I don't think I'd want any part of that epic memory. Here's one troubling titbit: "Carrying on a conversation while eating an apple was almost unthinkable, because both activities generated waves of conflicting impressions" (https://medium.com/young-coder/memory-lessons-from-a-man-who-couldnt-forget-4e5d9465d57e)
As much as I'd love a photographic memory on paper, I often have enough trouble switching off my "regular" brain that tends to have a running "to do" / "to stress out about" list at all times of the day. Burdening it with inescapable memories of every ltitle thing that's ever happened? Hard pass!
The more I learn about the downside, the more I realize one superpower humans can use is to forget (or compartmentalize) things. Synesthesia seems to eliminate this as a possibility.
"Hi, I'm Jane. Who are you?!"
"I am Blank Man. My superpower is instantly forgetting everything! Nothing can stop me!"
"I don't think that's true."
"I don't care WHAT you think, uh, whoever you are!"
While not as intense, the actress/singer Marilu Henner has this ability. Remembers everything that ever happened in her life down to the day of week and approximate time. It’s one of the abilities I think I’d like most right behind teleportation.
I wonder if this contributed to her success, or held her back.
It's always fascinating to me how things, once brought to our attention, pop up again. I always pick up a book at the airport bookstore and a few weeks ago it was Michelle Richmond's Marriage Pact. I realized only after reading it that I actually follow her work here on Substack. I loved the book and decided to get another of hers from the library this week - The Year of Fog. It's a novel that includes a lot of fascinating information about memory and time. And in it, she mentions/describes Shereshevsky.
Hey, I'm already following her! Neat, small world!
I have synesthesia. Most flavors I taste also come with impressions of colors, shapes, and textures. Mint ice cream to me is also rounded and smooth, low?, and concave. I don't see a color for that one, only shape, texture, and placement. Sometimes impressions don't make sense, like why is it low? Because my brain says that's essential to mint ice cream flavor.
I don't think my memory is any better than anyone else's, but my memories are visually vivid and I can recall a lot of details about the way things looked. I don't so much remember sounds, though, and if I don't see instructions, I won't remember them as well as if I see them.
I've learned to mostly not get distracted by it, but sometimes I have to stop and fully experience my favorites. I can really geek out on some ripe peaches! Brains are amazing!
Thanks for sharing this! I'm definitely fascinated by one sense leaping over into another. I have noticed that if I eat something, I can taste bitter/umami at the very back/side of my tongue, and this sort of... hurts... too. Sensory inputs need not work one particular way for everyone all the time!
This is really cool. I didn't know there were actually people with complete total recall. But yeah I can definitely see how that would be awful and beautiful at the same time.
In fairness, I'm not sure how total it is, but I understand that the amount of information a person who is truly experiencing synesthesia is AN AWFUL LOT, and it can be crazy overwhelming. Maybe I can chalk this one up to yet one more thing I thought I wanted, but actually don't!
Agreed!
So fascinating. Didn't know about this at all and synesthesia is one of the conditions that really interests me!
Have you read Moonwalking with Einstein? It's a book about memory tricks that came to mind when reading this.
Not yet, but that's the sort of book I enjoy! I'll check it out on Audible (had a credit burning a hole in my pocket!).
Look forward to your thoughts