Memories

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ToM stands for "Theory of Mind", one area aspies are said to have trouble in.

The wiki entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_mind
(There is a section on the deficits in autism.)

I could be thinking way outside the box, I'm just trying to figure out where my interpretation issues stem from -- seemingly a combination of my intense fantasy world, wishful thinking, and strugglling to *read* others (Theory of Mind deficits, also called "Mind Blindness").

I realize this subject is belonging in another thread now, but the topic relation fascinates me, nonetheless.

I have too many memories. I've done too much.

Einsteinologist, I believe the sequence is:

traumatic event->amygdala->adrenalin->hippocampus->memory->x perseverative replay=PTSD

When women come in to the ER after a rape, the perscription of choice is for a heavy dose beta blocker, which blocks the uptake of adrenalin. The more emotionally charged (adrenalized) the memory, the stickier it is.

emotionally charged unpleasant memories are like a bad tooth that one's tongue won't stay away from, in a "yep, still there, still hurts," kinda way.

Compulsive reliving of good memories probably allows you to reexperience a degree of the pleasurable dopamine the event originally induced. At least, for awhile. So, perhaps we keep returning to them on a dopamine chase, like an internalized ADHD. That's just conjecture on my part, I've never looked into any of this.
So, take it with more than just a single grain of salt.

A lot of us could win prizes in the perseveration+ touchy amygdala category. It is, I believe, one of the sources of our memory differences. Again this is simply conjecture. I haven't gotten around to thinking much about memory yet.

Wow, what you said makes total sense to me! I, too, do a lot of theorizing without actual research, based on what I HAVE researched. It's ok. And btw, I have ADHD, so that part made total sense to me.

This is a HUGE topic for me, so I'll stop for now... so much to think on! I'm also interested in studying the implications of music on memory, as I'm a musician, and have discovered so weird phenomena! ~E.

Indeed. Thanks both you and cinbad.