A case of Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM) accompanied by highly frequent involuntary autobiographical memory

Abstract

Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM) is the rare ability to recollect nearly all of one’s past personal experiences with great detail and accuracy. When given a date, a person with HSAM can recall verifiable details about what they experienced that day. People with HSAM do not tend to stand out on standard neuropsychological assessments, common laboratory tasks, or other measures that assess intentional forms of memory. Some clues suggest that the superior autobiographical remembering of people with HSAM occurs involuntarily. In a newly identified case of a person with HSAM, we found evidence using the Involuntary Autobiographical Memory Inventory (IAMI) that the person’s involuntary memory indeed stands out. This person’s past-oriented Involuntary Autobiographical Memory (IAM) frequency was two standard deviations above the mean reported in previous research. while, in line with past research, her performance on standard neuropsychological batteries and laboratory tasks was unremarkable. We propose that these intrusive recollections facilitate the consolidation of memory for past events.