The Reality of Total Recall: Living with Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory

POLICY WIRE — Brisbane, Australia — Rebecca Sharrock experiences life with a rare neurological condition known as Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory, or HSAM. At 36, she retains vivid, precise recollections of nearly every day of her existence, reaching back to her earliest childhood.

Sharrock describes her daily reality as a barrage of random, involuntary flashbacks. These memories, which span from her toddler years to adulthood, often surface without warning, making it difficult for her to find rest at night.

Living with autism, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) alongside HSAM creates a complex psychological landscape for Sharrock. She notes that her OCD and HSAM often exacerbate one another, as she struggles to release both thoughts and the intense emotions attached to them.

Her memory is remarkably precise, even regarding global events. For instance, she recalls the specific details of her family’s reaction to the death of the Princess of Wales on August 31, 1997, noting that she was seven years old at the time.

Dr. Craig Stark, a professor of neurobiology and behavior at the University of California, Irvine, led the team that diagnosed Sharrock in 2013. After two years of rigorous testing, researchers confirmed her condition by verifying her accounts against public records and personal diaries.

While the exact prevalence of HSAM remains unknown, researchers have identified approximately 100 individuals worldwide with the trait. Actress Marilu Henner, known for her role in the sitcom Taxi, is among the most prominent figures living with the condition.

Stark explains that individuals with HSAM often process their days similarly to how others might curate a social media feed or a diary. By repeatedly thinking about and structuring their experiences, they reinforce these memories through consistent mental practice.

To manage the constant influx of memories, Sharrock utilizes a mental filing system, organizing her life into specific months, years, and days. She credits her OCD for this need to categorize, noting a childhood fear that forgetting details would mean losing a part of herself.

Sharrock relies on creative outlets to ground her mind and distract from unwanted flashbacks. She studies foreign languages, including Spanish, French, and Italian, and finds solace in classical music, which she uses to anchor her thoughts during moments of stress.

Due to the intensity of her conditions, Sharrock does not drive or pursue a traditional career. Instead, she focuses on writing and creative projects, having released her first book, My Life is a Puzzle, in 2024, with a follow-up titled My Life in Sketches currently in progress.

While she once wished for a more typical life, Sharrock has come to accept her unique cognitive state. She advocates for continued scientific research into HSAM, believing that a deeper understanding of the human brain is essential for future discovery.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)