Autism and memory

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I have read something on a blog a while ago that claims Aspies have good long-term memory. I believe that to be true.


I have memories of moments in my life that have no significance. I can remember conversations that I have with individuals that took place years ago that can't be recalled by him/her.

I can remember indcidents that took place when I was 3. I remember when I was walking in and out of a room in the apartment we lived in. I don't know what it is about that incidence that I can remember it.

yes thats definitely the case with me. Its whats called episodic memory (filmographic memory for events in your life) and is a commonly reported trait amognst aspies. Unfortunately i'm dyslexic and also have weak short term memory which means when it comes to studying i have to work much harder to get things into my long term memory in the first place.

If only there was a way to scientifically measure episodic memory so that someone could publish something to see just how prevelat this improved long term memory is.

I would concur. I have crib memories. Specific ones...
Lots and lots of episodic memories...most seem to be from the distant past though...

um...

I have this weird knack for remembering where things are in a very cluttered environment...it is a weird sort of visual memory...

For instance...My very good friend is a serious pack rat, and I recall where little specific items are located all throughout his very cluttered and pile apartment. I am able to baffle him by telling him where specific items are located on his shelves and whatnot..even though I only visit his house once a week.....this is a person who will sometimes have meltdowns if he can't find things...

I use this skill on a continual basis at home. My partner Flakey is constantly calling upon me to find things because I can find in a minute or two something that might take him hours.

It is one of the main reasons he keeps me around...

I used to have better long term memory just like you have described, but I think all the traumatic emotional events of the last year, when the Aspism has really brought things down around my head and NTs have been going off on me right and left, has resulted in a degradation of the filmographic memory. Now it seems to just shut off if I try to bring up stuff from this last year... no doubt some PTSD kicking in.

I've also seen some credible speculation and early studies reporting that Aspies have difficulty retrieving short term memories... but I find that I actually play back conversation a nano-second behind its actual speaking to process and respond to it.

Another reason for those odd responses?

I have the same problem -- getting info in my long term memory in the first place. The intake has to be in the right format -- not print paper. Much of the time, not aurally. But if it is via Internet computer, tactile, or kinesthetic, the long-term photographic memory storage bunkers get filled to the brim.

Also got a good portion of long term memory. However, my "CPU memory cache" is 2 kb and i really have to write stuff down - or i risk forgetting details or the entire thing.

I know one way of making sure that information goes into my long term memory, i sit down, open a word processor and write a short paper on the subject (for myself) and voila' - it sticks.