Woman With Amazing Memory Speaks
April 5, 2006 -- -- A 40-year-old woman who is being studied by neurobiologists because of her near-perfect memory says her ability to recall nearly every detail in her life is a gift that she wouldn't want to lose. But like all the rest of us, when she goes to the store she sometimes forgets something she meant to buy.
The woman, called simply "AJ" by the researchers to protect her privacy, has become a bit of an international celebrity since her story was revealed a couple of weeks ago by scientists at the University of California at Irvine. But she has declined numerous requests for interviews.
She did consent, however, to answer a few questions from ABCNEWS.com users that were forwarded to her through neurobiologist James L. McGaugh, a member of the National Academy of Sciences and a pioneer in memory research.
"AJ" has been studied for the past five years by McGaugh and two other scientists at Irvine, Elizabeth Parker, a clinical professor of psychiatry and neurology, and Larry Cahill, an associate professor of neurobiology and behavior.
So far, they have been unable to determine why she has such an extraordinary memory, but further studies, including brain scans, are planned.
She is quite different from some extraordinary individuals who are able to recall such things as the specific day that any date fell on, and major news events of that day. In most cases, those with that kind of ability suffer some losses in other areas.
That includes the much celebrated case of a Russian patient called "S," who had a terrific memory but suffered from a condition known as synesthesia, in which sounds have a distinct smell, and colors have a certain taste.
Synesthesia proved tragic for "S," eventually making it difficult for him to function. Interestingly, "AJ" says she has "a bit of this condition," but it has not made her life more difficult.
Her life actually sounds pretty routine. She goes to work like the rest of us, wasn't particularly outstanding in school, and finds her gift a useful device for entertaining friends.
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