'Taxi' Actress Marilu Henner Has Super-Rare Autobiographical Memory Ability

By Zach Dionne Posted Dec 20th 2010 11:02AM

'Taxi' star Marilu Henner was featured on Sunday's '60 Minutes' for a reason entirely separate from her celebrity status: The actress, 58, has an ultra-rare ability called "superior autobiographical memory," a status scientists have only designated to a minuscule handful of people around the world.

In short, Henner can remember almost every day of her life vividly and accurately. "A day 10 years ago is as clear to them as yesterday is to you or me," a voiceover explains.

The pitch to CBS reporter Lesley Stahl was to center around super-memory violinist Louise Owen, but Stahl says: "When I first heard about this research, what surprised me was not that this condition existed, but that it was considered so rare. That's because it sounded like a description of a friend of mine."

The friend is Marilu Henner. "I can rattle off almost every time I've seen you," Henner tells Stahl in conversation. The actress goes on to run through her shoe-closet and super-specifically cite the first time she wore many pairs. It sounds hokey, but rigorous tests and thorough reporting document this remarkable ability Henner and Owen possess. See the segment after the jump.

Part One (Marilu Henner portion of the segment begins at 6 minutes):

"Louise says she can remember every day of her life since age 11," Stahl says.

Owen's explanation of it? "It's almost as automatic as if you say, 'What is your name and where do you live?'"

Speaking with Henner, Stahl says: "You really do remember your whole life."

"It's like putting in a DVD and it queues up to a certain place," Henner answers. "I'm there again, so I'm looking out from my eyes and seeing things visually as I would have that day."

Part Two:

Tags: 60 Minutes, Marilu Henner

Comments

(185)

Monday 20 December

By Jalapeno

Vote down Vote up Report this

My memory is good, but not like these people.
I remember the events of 10/21/09 vividly, among other dates.
Too bad my past employer can't remember the events as well as I.
No doubt he can't distinguish between the truth and his lies.

By cheryl

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Yeah, I can make stuff up too.

By Nico Toscani

I agree, if it's not an outright hoax it's just a fluke an serves ZERO purpose.

By Rosanna

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

You obviously did not actually watch the show correctly or are just an idiot. They can make up dates and days of actual events that happened throughout history? They can remember when it rained from 20 years ago and it can be proven by actual weather records....how the hell is that made up.

By Free Redhawk

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

memeroy peopel do not like to talk to me because I cn't remember what I was saying about 90% of the time it took me about 20 min to type this

By imacjr

The other side of this is that there are some bad things or experiences that happen in life that one is better off erasing or diminishing from your mind. And I gather these people can't do that.

By badogscoobydoo

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

What a Beautiful woman! My secondmost pleasure enjoying everything about her.

By ilionheart

I might be this way. I'm 63 yrs old, yet have always been able to recall specific days in detail all the way back to when I was a baby... in diapers. As a baby, even before I could talk, I heard AND understood conversations and I still recall them. Too bad I've never known how to capitalize on this! :)

By JIMMY

same here... i wouldn't call it a gift. somethings, one should forget, not me. right to the smallest detail, good and bad.

By M

My son does this.He will tell you dates times what everyone was wearing replay conversations,like he was a recorder.He told me one time about something that occured when he was only 3 days old,I thouhgt that it was strange that he would know that,but he did. His brothers always ask him how he remembers things so well, he says, he just does.When anyone in the family wants to know something about a particular day,they call him, they know if he was there he will give them all the details.Hes settled many a dispute.If someone ask him about something,and he says no dont remember that,his brothers say it was not that way then because if it happened and he was there,he would remember.

By TIFFANY

Interesting...Although I can't remember everyday of my life, I do seem to hold memories a lot more than the average person. My memory seems more long term than short term though, as I can vividly remember back before my brother was born and there on, mind you I was 2 when he was born. My brother thinks it's odd because sometimes he will bring up something that was a few months to a year or so ago and I don't remember. Childhood memories seem to stick with me, I'm not sure if it is because I loved my childhood or what but I remember it like it was yesterday...it would also explain why I am obsessed with the 1980's, as that is the time I remember and loved the most.

By Tom

My Great Uncle Marvin must of had "superior autobiographical memory" It had been well known for years that he could recall what day of the week twenty years ago your birthday was on, but only later that he could also recall what he ate for dinner on a specifc day over forty years ago. There were many speculations of Uncle Marv's "gift" but now we know. He also had this quirk that I wonder if the others have... Although Marvin weighed 150 lbs, he had a tremendous appettite and would amaze everyone how much food he could eat for a man his size. He also was very OCD... Great Story, Thanks

By Snot Bunny

Marilu still looks quite lovely.

By DD

I saw 60Mins last night about Marilu Henner and it mentioned how she likes things done in an orderly fashion like having her clothes and shoes closet organized - Well I'm sorry, that is not Henner who is doing the organizing, it's her housekeeper!! That closet would not look so orderly and nice if Henner had to organize it herself everyday. Such hypocrisy.

By Lynn

This is part of her OCD--not her housekeepers......

By Ardy

How do you know? Been hanging out with Marilou so you know she can't organize it for herself?

Lynn and Ardy - I don't have to hang out with her to know it was her house keeper that organizes her closet. She might have a good memory and good for Henner, but there is no way she spends a whole lot of time organizing her closet in this manner - not in a million years. Sorry!

By Linda

I have something similar and so does my oldest daughter. I never thought it was anything out of the ordinary until I grew up and found that most other people don't have the same kind of memory. I describe it sort of like a "roach motel." Things check in, but they don't check out. Now that I'm 64, it takes a little longer to pull up the memory, but they're still there.

By Matt

I usually can't remember the start of a sentence by the time I get to...uh I lost my train of thought.

ahhh. another hollywood relationship for Denise. 2 months of happiness, 3-5 years of being abused, beaten up. go figure, another rocker 'bad boy' she's going to 'change'. sounds like locklear might be able to get in too. and wimmin wonder why men think they are stupid. hello!

Page 3 of 10