HSAM, also called hyperthymesia, is an extraordinarily rare memory condition. Fewer than 100 people worldwide are confirmed to have it, such as Rebecca Sharrock. Those with HSAM vividly recall personal experiences: dates, conversations, smells, and emotions, as if reliving them. Unlike most of us, whose memories fade over time, HSAM makes the past ever-present.
Scientists first began studying HSAM in 2006 at the University of California, Irvine. The condition may be linked to differences in key brain regions: the amygdala, tied to emotions, and the hippocampus, essential for memory storage. In HSAM, memories are triggered involuntarily, so unlike typical forgetting, the past can intrude without warning.
Meet Rebecca Sharrock, the Australian HSAM Case
Rebecca Sharrock, from Brisbane, Australia, is a rare example of HSAM. She received her official HSAM diagnosis in 2013. She remembers sleeping in a pink cotton blanket at just one week old. For most of her life, she thought such recall was normal until a TV program revealed others had similar abilities, and hers was unusual.
Since childhood, Rebecca could replay events with movie‑like clarity, complete with sights, smells, sounds, and even pain. She could recite reports or lines from Harry Potter verbatim. Early on, she assumed everyone lived like her, confused when others reacted with awe to her stories.
Rebecca Sharrock vividly relives not only the facts but the feelings tied to her memories. Recalling an incident from age three brings back those same emotions as if she were three again, even though she is now an adult. This emotional replay means that every negative moment feels fresh and raw. The usual fading of emotion over time doesn’t happen for her. That is why she describes HSAM as both miraculous and haunting.
Every day adds another layer to her memory archive. This constant flood of detail can distract her and make it hard to focus on current moments. Mundane thoughts or disruptive flashbacks can intrude at any time, day or night.
Socially, her unfiltered memory means she may recall slights or unkind words that others have long forgotten. That can make forgiveness harder and strain relationships. Many people might consider forgetting a weakness, but for Rebecca, forgetting would be a relief.
To cope, Rebecca Sharrock uses mindfulness techniques to remain present and avoid being overwhelmed by memories. Keeping a structured routine and using writing as an emotional outlet helps her manage daily life. She also benefits from therapy and support groups, where she can share her experience with others who understand such a unique condition.
HSAM sparks curiosity among neuroscientists. While their brain anatomy may look typical, research suggests HSAM involves obsessive mental reviewing of the past, which strengthens recall. Their memory retrieval is involuntary and emotionally charged. Some studies even link HSAM with forms of synesthesia, experiencing dates or memories as sensory images.
Though HSAM boosts personal memory, it does not translate to better memory for unrelated facts. Many hyperthymesiacs perform similarly to others in standard memory tests.
HSAM Beyond Her Case
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Rebecca Sharrock is not alone. Cases include American Jill Price, diagnosed after recalling daily events since 1980, and actress Marilu Henner, who appeared on 60 Minutes to discuss her condition. Other individuals include Nima Veiseh, a painter who uses HSAM to create detailed art and young Markie Pasternak.
More recently, a Canadian high schooler, Emily Nash, also shared her HSAM story on CTV W5. Together, these cases help scientists learn just how rare and complex HSAM truly is.
Living with HSAM means reliving past emotions all over again. The world might see a perfect memory as enviable, but for someone who can’t forget, unpleasant moments become ever-present. This constant emotional recall can feel like a curse more than a gift.
Reddit users have noted: “Sounds like a living hell, really… every embarrassing thing you ever did… There is a reason we forget.”
Another said: “The memory woman clings tightly to her past… Every pain stays fresh.”
These echoes from Rebecca show a struggle between the beauty of memory and its emotional weight.
We forget for good reasons. It helps us heal, let go, and move on. Memory is not just about recording facts; it helps us live in the present. Rebecca’s experience teaches us that forgetting isn’t a flaw; it’s essential for mental balance. Her story highlights that the ability to forget is as valuable as the capacity to remember.
HSAM offers a window into the extraordinary potential of human memory. Yet as Rebecca’s life shows, this potential can come at a cost. Rebecca Sharrock lives fully immersed in her past, cherishing every moment yet carrying the weight of emotions forever. Her story challenges us to reconsider the role of memory. While most of us forget parts of our past, that forgetting helps us move forward with lighter hearts.
In the end, what matters isn’t how much memory we have, it’s how we choose which memories to hold and which to release. That delicate balance truly defines our humanity.
