Tuesday, October 23, 2007

The Aspie Memory


The Filmographic, not Photographic Memory


What Aspies can't easily Remember
  • Names

  • Birthdays

  • Dates and Times of Events

  • Shopping Lists

  • Specific Lists of Items (eg: Periodic Table)


The Mysterious Disappearing Short-Term Memory





Recording and Playback




How young does it start?




Closing thoughts


Anonymous Ghost Writer said...

I realise that it is a bit late in the day for a comment on this post but here it is.

I wish to bring a to the fore for anyone who is looking here for some insight into their own way of being, that other memory based mental health conditions may interfere with and distort what has been stated here. The one of which I have the greatest experience is Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or Complex PTSD. CPTSD can cause the sufferer to relive a traumatic period in their life over and over to the point where they as a defence mechanism block out all memories associated with the event. This coupled with the 'Filmographic' memory and social difficulties can lead to memories of events years later being blocked out as well.

An example may be of someone who was constantly beaten behind a shed may sub-consciously block out the memory of the beatings. However PTSD triggers by familiar events and surroundings, so let’s say that the reaction is caused by sheds in general. Now if I were to tell that person something near a shed their mind may very well block out all memory of the event and what I told them because it may lead back to the memory of the beatings. This may lead the individual to believe that they have a terrible memory when it is in fact the exact opposite.

CPTSD can be started unlike PTSD by many what would otherwise be considered minor events endured repeatedly and constantly over an extended period. It is well noted that AS and similar 'disorders' invite bulling and abuse from other elements of the community especially during the school years. This could lead to entire sequences of a persons life being physically blocked because it comes to close to bullying that they received in social situations long before. What may otherwise be considered a bad memory may in fact be a last ditch attempt by the brain to protect itself from a trauma long since past.

This could possibly explain some who claim not to have this memory characteristic, although I hope that no one takes from this post that memory is an integral part of Asperger’s.

Raechel Celeste Kitchens said...

That is exactly like me.
Especially in regard to your "note taking"..
I would always doodle/draw during the entire period [it almost felt like a sort of stimulation to let out my thoughts/visions on paper] and I'd look back and was able to recap everything through different parts of my drawings/doodles. I still do the same. I doodle on everything to this day, and when I look at those doodles again I see my past experiences. I tend to have the same triggered type of memory with smells and sounds..sometimes past moments reappear in my mind, and I can't figure out how/why though. The mind is so interesting........ Why? When? How? ...Hmmmmmm......

Bob said...

While I've always had short-term memory problems but great long term memory, this is the most unusual memory problem that I've had during my life.

From a very early age I was fascinated with sounds but particularly the accents of people from different parts of the world. I spent a lot of time watching tv and listening to the different accents and copying them myself along with lots of other vocal sounds including bird and animal sounds.

Even now when I meet people, if they speak differently I have to control myself not to mimic their voice. I did this unknowingly for years and it got me into lots of trouble.

However, when I was about 8 years old, I woke up one morning and had completely forgotten how to speak with my own accent. This was quite frightening and when I spoke I would speak with a variety of mixed accents but not knowing which one I was supposed to stick with or even how to pronounce my words as I had done before.

I thought that my forgetful memory was really going to get me into trouble now. However, my parents weren't too worried as I had always put on different accents and voices and they thought that I was just playing a game. I got a harder time than normal from the other kids at school because of this. They would talk to me just so I would talk back with a strange voice and then they'd laugh at me.

I was quite afraid to talk and spoke minimally until one morning after about 4 weeks, I found that I was talking with a consistent accent again and feeling confident in the way I spoke too. I quickly made a recording of my voice on the cassette recorder in case I forgot my accent again as I would then have a reference to listen to however this problem only ever happened the once. That was 20 years ago, and these days I work as a musician and being able to do voices and accents has got me work in a recording studio working on radio jingles etc.

Mookage said...

Wow, I've really enjoyed reading your post, I've often falsely described myself as having a photographic memory but its actually a filmic. I can walk around and often replay scenes and events in my head and then replay and recall those events on command to the people i'm with. (It's quite useful at work when we need to recall discussions in meetings etc, although most people I work with now know I can do this !). I also work a bit like an Ipod video, and can frequently be watching a movie in my head when out doing something else - having a real Ipod helps with storage space - my wife has started to be able to tell what i'm watching based on the movement of my lips. My son is an officially dignosed asperger and I'm fairly certain he can do the same as he has instant recall of whole episodes of Star Wars:Clone Wars that he has only seen once, and he is only 6. I've rambled, but thanks for the posts. I'll be reading them All. (I'm a self diagnosed - seeking confirmation to support as a parent)

falafaf said...

That's kind of a great description of me. Bein a none aspie I do not remember names, birthdays, bascially Items. All I remember is Filmographic memory, I am kind of shocked about this. Do aspies have poor local senses skills. I'm horrible at knowing where I am located, and I have a sudden fetish for walking the same route again and again to places. Is that an Aspie trait? Great post, Kepp your head up. Just dont be to hard on your kid, it's nothing wrong to forgett things. As I have seen it, it's nothing really important. &Johan

Anita said...

I'm an Aspie, but I don't find myself having problems with memory unless it's convinient to the situation. I write things down in my diary (appointments and lists) and carry around a notepad just in case someone asks me to do something for them.

My memory is pretty good, as long as it deals with something I like to do (I was a TV addict, I knew exactly what was on and when).

At school I'd write stories when in a lecture and get straight A's on tests. I wasn't diagnosed back then. I was just utterly bored with school and didn't try my best as I've could have done so much better. Had I been diagnosed back then, I'd probably have not chosen a social education as follow up (I failed).

Bekka said...

Bah! Disappearing short-term memory! I was so chuffed that I learned how to tie my shoes at a younger age than my brother. Did rather well with it, too. Then all of a sudden, I flipping forgot, and had to wear velcro-closure shoes for about two years before I could get the hang of tying them again. Frustrating as all hell.

Anonymous said...

I finally got a life at 65 when I was diagnosed with aspergers. It explains so much of what has happened and I am ok with it...my worst problem is my memory...too much of it is gone. I do know I spent a lot of time in abusive situations, so these posts help me to understand that part of aspergers. found out this week that I have a grandson that has been diagnosed with it...I am trying to work with my daughter to help her understand..

Anonymous said...

I stumbled across this blog page after searching in google. I will be 45yrs old in a fortnight, and am currently seeking to get a formal diagnosis of Aspergers. I have become increasingly anxious, and isolated, and wonder how I ever struggled through all these years, but I have raised 2 children, both are in their 20's, but my adult son still lives with me, as he has ASD/OCD.
For me to get a formal diagnosis would be a huge relief, and would make sense of my past struggles and help me to move ahead having a greater understanding of myself.
It's not easy trying to convince the health authority to take you seriously enough to refer you for a formal diagnosis as a mature adult its it?
I am identifying with what folks have said about accents here, especially 'Bob'. I am smiling to myself as I am best thought of as being the master of accents! I only had to hear an accent and almost involuntarily I'd be mimiking it! And as you say yes it did get me into trouble also, more than once.
I've been asked if I come from Brisbane, as at one point I loved and spoke with an Austrailian accent!
I could speak for ages on this, but had beter finish up.
Thanks for this blog, I'll be reading over some past posts now I've found it.

Anonymous said...

I could have written this post. My notes never made any sense, but if I wasn't dpod ing, I probably wasn't absorbing the information either. This weekend I forgot a very simple word. I'm always doing that, and when I'm searching, it's like searching a Rolodex-visually searching for the word. I've always told people, it's not quite a photographic memory. But I need a trigger to remember it all.

Anonymous said...

I'm quite surprised by this and don't know if I agree with it entirely. I was diagnosed with Asperger's recently (age 20) and have always been excellent at names, phone numbers, and other strings of information, while a lot of visual things are apparently troublesome.

In one of the tests the psychologist gave, I had to look at a picture of some kind of geometric design and copy it while being given different colored markers every few seconds to track what order I did it in. After that, she took the picture and my copy away and had me try to draw it from memory, which was a struggle.

I was later told that I had been drawing the picture in small parts/being more detail oriented (typical of Asperger's) rather than looking at the big picture, which would have made it an easy task.

I do agree, though, about being able to recall specific events very well.

Naomi Dolby said...

Has anyone had problems with short term memory when dealing with every day routine? My 11year old was diagnosed at aged five. He's fantascally clever, a genius with numbers, facts and figures, seemingly photographic memory in subjects that appeal to him (general knowledge, geography and many other subjects, he's obsessed with pokemon too!), but his short term memory is becoming terrible. We've now had to make a list of his every day routine, as he doesn't remember to do things such as go to the toilet, have a drink, get dressed etc, unless we're nagging him! I was wondering if thus is common, or if this is something we need to discuss with a doctor? Any advice would be much appreciated! Thanks fir reading :-)

Lacey Gibson said...

Oh wow...that sounds exactly like me, especially the part about note taking(w/parts of the picture bringing back the memory). I just found out I have aspergers recently and the more I learn about AS the more I discover about MYSELF and although at first when I was told I have AS I was shocked and didnt know how to feel..well now I am learning so much about myself and I am so thankful for the diagnosis, bc its not like it changed anything about me, bc Ive been "the way I am" my whole life, but it has given me the answers to questions ive had about myself for years! Like the memory thing..sometimes when someone is talking to me, I will stare, or look at an object(not purposely its all subconscious I believe..?) but when I think back to that conversation, the object I was staring at/focusing on pops into my head and I can better remember the conversation. I just never thought much about it..kind of thought maybe everyone did that but at the same time had never heard anyone refer to certain random objects to trigger their memory like me. Learn something new about myself everyday! I LOVE your Blog by the way! Thankyou for sharing your experiences it has helped me soo much!

stonesinmyblood27 said...

I have both Aspergers syndrome and have an eidetic memory. I'm 56 years old, have a 152 IQ and can recall weather on any specific date from the early part of my childhood. I've been challenged on this and have proved that I can. I remember in pictures and in a film and I can also recall my moods and feelings along with these memories. Its a lot of fun!!! Contact me at ttseat@aol.com if you want to discuss this with me.

Anonymous said...

This is incredible, I basically read about myself in this post. I have a terrible time remembering names (get halfway through a semester to realise I don't know a professor's name!) as well as birthdays, shopping lists, and other lists of information that have little direct impact on my special interest. I always prided myself on my good memory, and could never understand why I had such a hard time with these types of memory tasks. I have filmographic memory to a T, in fact, that's how I described it to my parents before ever hearing the term; "It's like a film reel in my head." It's why I'm so good at pulling up movie and TV diologue, even after one viewing, because it's imprinted on my brain like a film reel. Amazing.

Another-Aspie said...

Is it sad that while hearing about aspie short term memory issues, I thought, "Hey I have that issue sometimes, I should look this up"

Then promptly forgetting my intention to do so.

Thus re-reading the article I saw it mentioned to try again?

I have huge issues with things like the names until I really care about someone.

I.e. if I'll never see the person again, i'll likely not even remember the name for the time he/she is there.

Or lists/information I care little about.

I'll almost instantaneously forget thins like:

-The first half of a math equation
-Those nonsense word sections of IQ tests
-A number i'm on while counting

All this because I know I won't need that information in about 10 seconds. So My brain figures, why bother storing it.

Give me something I find interesting, and I can recall it easily.

-Funny childhood stories my mom told me
-The entire plot and sometimes dialogues of movies/games I like
-Useless trivia that interests me

My mind and body can work in mysterious ways, and sometimes not for the better, but being an aspie is part of who I am. And I embrace it.

Anonymous said...

Diagnosed aspie about 5 years ago. About the recording/playback thing... last thing at night just as I'm relaxing and about to doze off, sometimes I get an involuntary "action replay" of the days events, especially if it's been a busy day, emotionally fraught or a break from my usual routine... it is like watching a film and at a few of these times I've even had playbacks of entire conversations, word for word in the exact tone and whathaveyou... if someone had asked me to recount these conversations when fully awake and alert of course I wouldn't have been able to do it. Would be interested to know if this is specifically an aspie thing or if NT's ever experience this too.

Daniel C. Greene said...

I have Asperger's (HFA) and my memory is terrible. I can remember things about physics and my "interests" but I can never remember things like where I put my keys, pumping gas after I pay, just basic things. My memory is awful. I wait tables and luckily the customers are understanding because sometimes they will ask for things like a to-go box and I'll forget before I get back up to the workstation.

Selim said...

I've suffered with Aspergers all my life. I'm quite good with technology and so forth but my short term memory is terrible. I'm a IT guy. i work in an IT job. I'm trying to learn new stuff in my job but i tend to forget things and i have to keep on asking for help and help on understand things. For me, i have to be taught several times until i 'get it' or shown in person. Well this is getting annoying for my fellow workers and i'm on temp until end of this year and i 'm really worried that i might lose my job blamed on my dreaded Aspergers which has ruined my quality of life and if only there was some way to make me remember things better and retain the stuff i learn, really i just can't! My self-esteem is very bad and because of this i'm quite a depressed individual because i've been bullied my whole educated and personal life, treated differently than everyone else...i tend to hate myself and i think i need to see a Doctor..i'm from the UK and Doctors here are terrible. I don't think a Doctor can help me to be honest.....can professnials help me get a better memeory? No. Can a Doctor help me be less depresssed and more happier? No. So i have no idea what to do. No nobody seems to know or don't care on how to help me.

Anonymous said...

It is interesting how such similar things can be experienced by people on the spectrum. I have also had problems remembering how I normally speak. I have so many accents, some of them changing within minutes of the previous one. I think it is less of a memory problem and more of a speech abnormalty. Sometimes I wonder what my coworkers think of it. I have a very strong episodic memory and I have always enjoyed surprising people by bringing up things they have said or done in the past. Sometimes this happens unintentionally when I think they do remember. I have found I could increase my short term memory a bit by playing apps like lumosity and such. But a lot of the times even though I try hard to remember something does not mean I will actually remember it a few minutes later. If I did, I would not have a memory problem!

Anonymous said...

I am an undiagnosed Aspie. I do not have filmographic memory. I have 3d realistic memories with audio. I do not understand the phrase "My name is" but I can recall the answer to "How is that person called" I suffered a lot of abuse as a child but unfortunately remember every moment.
I was 35 years old before I discovered that people talk about me behind my back. I am that self centered. Embarrassment has always been my worst enemy. I now suffer from that no embarrassment. I have no more issues with vanity either.
I have become a highly paid consultant in the field I love and lecture frequently at several venues about my passion.
I still have issues though. Unfortunately I suffer from sensory perception disorder. Helps me in my nose and taste capabilities, part of my profession. But sucks to walk into a department store with a perfume counter or handling loud noises and crowds crowds.
I doddle too. The doodles tell a procedure.
I am OCD about rules. Another Aspie trait you didn't mention. I function. But I am also an alcoholic because I suffer from sleep onset hallucinations. There are combinations of these differences that make our life difficult.
The trick is to find how to use your differences to your advantage. Use an obsession to become an expert and charge money for your knowledge.
Obviously, we Aspies do not get great corporate performance reviews.

Anonymous said...

I didn't find the information concerning names, lists etc... to be entirely comparable to myself. I'm 13 and have ASD and I have by coincidence memorised the periodic table and I don't find memorising titles or names difficult at all. Also, regarding the argument based on the name of memory type I suggest using the term 'eidetic' as it is most suitable to the definition. An example of someone with ASD and eidetic memory would be Spencer Reid, a character from the CBS crime series, Criminal Minds. Thanks for writing the article, by the way. I'm assuming it required a large amount of effort and time.