CBS’ “60 Minutes” this weekend examines what is known as superior autobiographical memory.
Lesley Stahl realized that one of her friends, “Taxi” star Marilu Henner, had the ability and introduces her to others who have it.
“It’s like putting in a DVD and it cues up to certain places. I am there again … seeing things visually as I would have that day,” Henner says.
Marilu Henner 60 Minutes
Dr. James McGaugh, a professor of neurobiology at the University of California, Irvine, tested Henner and announced that she is the sixth person known to the scientific world to have the ability.
“They can do with their memories what you and I can do about yesterday … and they can do it every day,” McGaugh tells Stahl. “It could be a new chapter. … These people come and display a kind of memory we’ve never seen before, and we have to say, ‘Woo, what is that about?’ So we’re going to take a look and see if we can figure that out. And it could be very important.”
Henner meets four others who have superior autobiographical memory, but a fifth person, Jill Price, declined to join the gathering. Price complains of being haunted by the stream of memories, but said the ability has forced her to strive for a more meaningful life.
Marilu Henner 60 Minutes
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