Amazing man dies, the real rain man.
23-12-2009, 10:39 PM
#1
Amazing man dies, the real rain man.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worl...es-age-58.html
Sad day, a glimpse of just what the human brain is truely capable has been lost,
with just a "remap" by some brain damage.
Could read 2 pages of a book at once, in 8 seconds a page, and then remember the entire book even years later.
Just beyond comprehension to have those sort of memory skills
Sad day, a glimpse of just what the human brain is truely capable has been lost,
with just a "remap" by some brain damage.
Could read 2 pages of a book at once, in 8 seconds a page, and then remember the entire book even years later.
Just beyond comprehension to have those sort of memory skills
23-12-2009, 10:45 PM
#2
Ban[B][/B]ned
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: The Pool.
Posts: 34,090
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RIP. I seen him in a documentary and everything he put in his trolley, he looked at the barcode and when he got to the til, the lady put the bar codes in and they were all correct. I couldn't beleive it.
Benni.
Benni.
23-12-2009, 11:38 PM
#5
Evolution has taught us to understand concepts instead of detailed facts, which is more useful to us generally.
Last edited by Chip; 23-12-2009 at 11:41 PM.
24-12-2009, 07:09 AM
#6
Audio specialist
the brain is a strange thing really somthing i have been looking into because of my current situation and yea we dont understand at all quite what its capeable of but re-learning and the ability to overcome problems within its self is very welll documented what i mean by problems are bleeding.. clots, tumours , nerve damage, its re-learning capabilitys are just not understood. this chap lost things we take for granted just simple movement etc.. he gained a skill with which he could do somthing with, and used it. its a sad loss of a great mind rip chap 
Trending Topics
24-12-2009, 07:35 AM
#9
Hadn't actually heard of the guy but glad I have now.
"His reading technique consisted of reading the left page with his left eye and the right page with his right eye and in this way he could read two pages at time with a rate of about 8-10 seconds per page. "
Amazing!
"His reading technique consisted of reading the left page with his left eye and the right page with his right eye and in this way he could read two pages at time with a rate of about 8-10 seconds per page. "
Amazing!
24-12-2009, 08:41 AM
#11
i remember watching the programme about him, simply unique!
the mind is a wonderful thing, the complexity of the mind baffles me. i do wonder sometimes what the mind would be able to do if we were to use more than the small amount we currently use.
the mind is a wonderful thing, the complexity of the mind baffles me. i do wonder sometimes what the mind would be able to do if we were to use more than the small amount we currently use.
24-12-2009, 08:49 AM
#12
He wasnt clever as such, he was more like a computer, able to recall facts and figures and perform very basic tasks, but with no real ability to learn how to use any of the information that he had.
If it was, you would be incapable of crossing a busy road on your own, you would be so busy remembering the colour of the headrests in every car coming towards you, you would have no processing power in your brain left to work out when to walk.
It was a massive disability that he suffered from, it was far from all good.
But its an amazing demonstration of how much information the brain can store, just normally we use it for storing more useful things.
I wish my memory was as goods as his was. RIP.
It was a massive disability that he suffered from, it was far from all good.
But its an amazing demonstration of how much information the brain can store, just normally we use it for storing more useful things.
24-12-2009, 08:55 AM
#14
Also many of the tests conducted totally fail to acknowledge the importance the human brain places on mood and the amount of processing power dedicated to that, often the studies where people have parts of their frontal lobe removed say "can still perform normally although there are some small changes in mood", and totally miss that now means they were indeed using the bit that was just removed that you think they werent using, they were just using it for something very abstract and complex and difficult to quantify.
24-12-2009, 09:02 AM
#15
Its actually a bit of a myth that we only use 5% or 10% (commonly thrown about figures) of our brain, we can perform our day to day lives with about 5% of our brain, but we do use more than that when we need to, much like you can perform your daily life only using 5% of your muscle power but it doesnt mean you cant call on the rest when you need to.
Also many of the tests conducted totally fail to acknowledge the importance the human brain places on mood and the amount of processing power dedicated to that, often the studies where people have parts of their frontal lobe removed say "can still perform normally although there are some small changes in mood", and totally miss that now means they were indeed using the bit that was just removed that you think they werent using, they were just using it for something very abstract and complex and difficult to quantify.
Also many of the tests conducted totally fail to acknowledge the importance the human brain places on mood and the amount of processing power dedicated to that, often the studies where people have parts of their frontal lobe removed say "can still perform normally although there are some small changes in mood", and totally miss that now means they were indeed using the bit that was just removed that you think they werent using, they were just using it for something very abstract and complex and difficult to quantify.
it is something that fascinates me, i just dont have the time to read more about it.
in the case of Kim Peek, wasnt his IQ lower than average? which just goes to show, that anything which required him not to use his skills (memory etc) he struggled.
24-12-2009, 09:04 AM
#16
amazing man, but with that ability, was he able to use it to progress??
I mean it is all very well to know huge volumes of information, but was he able to then use that information creatively to solve problems or be creative with his thinking?
Would love to see the potenial of someone who could retain vast volumes of information like that, then apply that to problems to progress the human race.
I mean it is all very well to know huge volumes of information, but was he able to then use that information creatively to solve problems or be creative with his thinking?
Would love to see the potenial of someone who could retain vast volumes of information like that, then apply that to problems to progress the human race.
24-12-2009, 09:05 AM
#17
i take it you have an interest in the brain?
it is something that fascinates me, i just dont have the time to read more about it.
in the case of Kim Peek, wasnt his IQ lower than average? which just goes to show, that anything which required him not to use his skills (memory etc) he struggled.
it is something that fascinates me, i just dont have the time to read more about it.
in the case of Kim Peek, wasnt his IQ lower than average? which just goes to show, that anything which required him not to use his skills (memory etc) he struggled.
Yes I have a massive interest in the brain and psychology, but only a tiny smattering of knowledge on the subject in the grand scheme of things, brains and engines are the two things in the world I find most interesting.
Its weird how we vary, Im the opposite of Kim with my brain, im very very good at problem solving, and im good at remembering information I attach importance to, but I have an utterly terrible memory for things that dont interest me, and im bad at learning from a book but good at learning from experience or from engaging with others who have knowledge to transfer, I really struggle to remember what I had to eat a couple of days ago or what I was doing last weekend etc, normal day to day trivia is just totally filtered out by my brain, this is quite common for people who are good at problem solving.
Last edited by Chip; 24-12-2009 at 09:23 AM.
24-12-2009, 09:06 AM
#18
Would love to see the potenial of someone who could retain vast volumes of information like that, then apply that to problems to progress the human race.
What Kim could do, isnt actually very useful as its so easily replicated for us with a computer or a book etc.
24-12-2009, 09:46 AM
#19
His IQ was 73 IIRC from some of the films Ive seen about him.
Yes I have a massive interest in the brain and psychology, but only a tiny smattering of knowledge on the subject in the grand scheme of things, brains and engines are the two things in the world I find most interesting.
Its weird how we vary, Im the opposite of Kim with my brain, im very very good at problem solving, and im good at remembering information I attach importance to, but I have an utterly terrible memory for things that dont interest me, and im bad at learning from a book but good at learning from experience or from engaging with others who have knowledge to transfer, I really struggle to remember what I had to eat a couple of days ago or what I was doing last weekend etc, normal day to day trivia is just totally filtered out by my brain, this is quite common for people who are good at problem solving.
Yes I have a massive interest in the brain and psychology, but only a tiny smattering of knowledge on the subject in the grand scheme of things, brains and engines are the two things in the world I find most interesting.
Its weird how we vary, Im the opposite of Kim with my brain, im very very good at problem solving, and im good at remembering information I attach importance to, but I have an utterly terrible memory for things that dont interest me, and im bad at learning from a book but good at learning from experience or from engaging with others who have knowledge to transfer, I really struggle to remember what I had to eat a couple of days ago or what I was doing last weekend etc, normal day to day trivia is just totally filtered out by my brain, this is quite common for people who are good at problem solving.
Brain disorders is another element which interests me, such as skitzophrenia.
Dementia is another one, my Nan had dementia before she died, so its something i've witnessed. Witnessing someones mind degenerating is tragic tho
24-12-2009, 09:53 AM
#20
We are all good at something, whether its natural ability or something learned.
Brain disorders is another element which interests me, such as skitzophrenia.
Dementia is another one, my Nan had dementia before she died, so its something i've witnessed. Witnessing someones mind degenerating is tragic tho
Brain disorders is another element which interests me, such as skitzophrenia.
Dementia is another one, my Nan had dementia before she died, so its something i've witnessed. Witnessing someones mind degenerating is tragic tho
Essentially you have one stray bit of your brain just inserting random bits of innacurate data, and the rest of the brain has no way of knowing.
So when they hear a voice, they have no way of knowing that it isnt there, its a bit like if you were listening to music on your i-phone headphones and I tapped into the cable, and started inserting signals onto them, you would believe they came from your i-phone, with SZ sufferers this is what happens between the ear and the brain, it sound totally indistinguishable from a real sound you have heard.
Likewise with inserted memories, you have no way of knowing that what you are recalling isnt a "real" fact, to you it genuinely is.
Dementia I know a lot less about, although essentially its a related illness.
Last edited by Chip; 24-12-2009 at 10:00 AM.
24-12-2009, 10:04 AM
#21
Schitzophrenia is a subject that greatly interests me, I used to date someone who as a sufferer with it, its a fascinating condition.
Essentially you have one stray bit of your brain just inserting random bits of innacurate data, and the rest of the brain has no way of knowing.
So when they hear a voice, they have no way of knowing that it isnt there, its a bit like if you were listening to music on your i-phone headphones and I tapped into the cable, and started inserting signals onto them, you would believe they came from your i-phone, with SZ sufferers this is what happens between the ear and the brain, it sound totally indistinguishable from a real sound you have heard.
Likewise with inserted memories, you have no way of knowing that what you are recalling isnt a "real" fact, to you it genuinely is.
Essentially you have one stray bit of your brain just inserting random bits of innacurate data, and the rest of the brain has no way of knowing.
So when they hear a voice, they have no way of knowing that it isnt there, its a bit like if you were listening to music on your i-phone headphones and I tapped into the cable, and started inserting signals onto them, you would believe they came from your i-phone, with SZ sufferers this is what happens between the ear and the brain, it sound totally indistinguishable from a real sound you have heard.
Likewise with inserted memories, you have no way of knowing that what you are recalling isnt a "real" fact, to you it genuinely is.
Schitzophrenia can develop at anytime too can't it?
24-12-2009, 10:11 AM
#22
Schitzophrenia can develop at anytime too can't it?
Its genetically influenced in terms of your level of probability of getting it but that only effects how easily you will get it, its something that potentially could effect anyone of us.
Stress, abuse and certain drug misuse are all things that can trigger it.
Its far more common among people who smoke weed for example, this is why personally I will NEVER touch any drug (I drink maybe 5 pints or beer a month or so and thats at far as it goes with me), the mind is just too fragile to risk.
I think I would sooner get AIDS than SZ, my mind is the most important thing I have, and I would lose anything else in preference to it, even my life.
24-12-2009, 10:20 AM
#23
Not worrying at all, the only time she ever tried to hurt anyone was herself, she was no threat to anyone else, well not at that point, although its a condition that can change, its relatively easy to medicate against becoming extreme if its with a willing patient, she was unusual in that she acknowledged that she had it, most sufferers dont believe they do, so believe the doctors are making things up or plotting against them etc (hence the word paranoid going hand in hand with SZ)
Yes, and once it does, it never goes away, you may get periods of remission, and you will potentially learn coping strategies, but there is no cure.
Its genetically influenced in terms of your level of probability of getting it but that only effects how easily you will get it, its something that potentially could effect anyone of us.
Stress, abuse and certain drug misuse are all things that can trigger it.
Its far more common among people who smoke weed for example, this is why personally I will NEVER touch any drug (I drink maybe 5 pints or beer a month or so and thats at far as it goes with me), the mind is just too fragile to risk.
I think I would sooner get AIDS than SZ, my mind is the most important thing I have, and I would lose anything else in preference to it, even my life.
Yes, and once it does, it never goes away, you may get periods of remission, and you will potentially learn coping strategies, but there is no cure.
Its genetically influenced in terms of your level of probability of getting it but that only effects how easily you will get it, its something that potentially could effect anyone of us.
Stress, abuse and certain drug misuse are all things that can trigger it.
Its far more common among people who smoke weed for example, this is why personally I will NEVER touch any drug (I drink maybe 5 pints or beer a month or so and thats at far as it goes with me), the mind is just too fragile to risk.
I think I would sooner get AIDS than SZ, my mind is the most important thing I have, and I would lose anything else in preference to it, even my life.
likewise, never taken pills, i tried weed on a few occasions but didnt like it, alcohol is my only vice.
with alcohol in mind, ive now finished work and off down the pub for a few games of pool.
Merry Xmas!
Last edited by LHD220Turbo; 24-12-2009 at 10:21 AM.
24-12-2009, 10:21 AM
#24
Professional Waffler
i didnt think they use the term Schitzophrenia any more
i've lived with someone who had Schitzophrenia (my brother) and its so horrible to see, he would slip from highs to lows in a heart beat!
i've lived with someone who had Schitzophrenia (my brother) and its so horrible to see, he would slip from highs to lows in a heart beat!
24-12-2009, 10:31 AM
#25
Its still commonly used as a term as far as im aware, although its also frequently misused too.
Highs are very much NOT typical with straight SZ, thats more commonly ascociated with Bi-Polar, is it possible he had a bit of both?
Or are you meaning it more as a relative term, ie swinging between a normal level of happiness and massively unhappy would be going high/low?
Or was it highs induced by antidepressants, which a lot of sufferers are prescibed alongside their antipyschotics.
VERY grey areas with mental health, its amazingly difficult to make an accurate and thorough diagnosis I believe.
A lot of mental health issues have an up side to them (such as Kim Peek benefitted from), in the case of SZ, there really isnt any upside at all that I am aware of, its entirely a bad thing to have.
Even the medications are horrific, antipsychotic drugs are not something you ever want to be taking, the effects are horrible and the side effects are worse still!
i've lived with someone who had Schitzophrenia (my brother) and its so horrible to see, he would slip from highs to lows in a heart beat!
Or are you meaning it more as a relative term, ie swinging between a normal level of happiness and massively unhappy would be going high/low?
Or was it highs induced by antidepressants, which a lot of sufferers are prescibed alongside their antipyschotics.
VERY grey areas with mental health, its amazingly difficult to make an accurate and thorough diagnosis I believe.
A lot of mental health issues have an up side to them (such as Kim Peek benefitted from), in the case of SZ, there really isnt any upside at all that I am aware of, its entirely a bad thing to have.
Even the medications are horrific, antipsychotic drugs are not something you ever want to be taking, the effects are horrible and the side effects are worse still!
Last edited by Chip; 24-12-2009 at 10:36 AM.
24-12-2009, 10:40 AM
#26
I've found that life I needed.. It's HERE!!
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Rotherham
Posts: 1,398
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Amazing man, I believe its the lack of communication between parts of his brain that make him so unique. Basic tasks are impossible. Like moving his eyes without moving his head! Yet this allows him to process different images at the same time.
Will be missed by many i'm sure. Thought are with his father.
R.I.P.
Will be missed by many i'm sure. Thought are with his father.
R.I.P.
24-12-2009, 10:43 AM
#27
Amazing man, I believe its the lack of communication between parts of his brain that make him so unique. Basic tasks are impossible. Like moving his eyes without moving his head! Yet this allows him to process different images at the same time.
Will be missed by many i'm sure. Thought are with his father.
R.I.P.
Will be missed by many i'm sure. Thought are with his father.
R.I.P.
I believe that if you think of us as like a computer, he had an amazingly effective hard disk, but a crap processor!
24-12-2009, 04:04 PM
#28
Professional Waffler
Its still commonly used as a term as far as im aware, although its also frequently misused too.
Highs are very much NOT typical with straight SZ, thats more commonly ascociated with Bi-Polar, is it possible he had a bit of both?
Or are you meaning it more as a relative term, ie swinging between a normal level of happiness and massively unhappy would be going high/low?
Or was it highs induced by antidepressants, which a lot of sufferers are prescibed alongside their antipyschotics.
VERY grey areas with mental health, its amazingly difficult to make an accurate and thorough diagnosis I believe.
A lot of mental health issues have an up side to them (such as Kim Peek benefitted from), in the case of SZ, there really isnt any upside at all that I am aware of, its entirely a bad thing to have.
Even the medications are horrific, antipsychotic drugs are not something you ever want to be taking, the effects are horrible and the side effects are worse still!
Highs are very much NOT typical with straight SZ, thats more commonly ascociated with Bi-Polar, is it possible he had a bit of both?
Or are you meaning it more as a relative term, ie swinging between a normal level of happiness and massively unhappy would be going high/low?
Or was it highs induced by antidepressants, which a lot of sufferers are prescibed alongside their antipyschotics.
VERY grey areas with mental health, its amazingly difficult to make an accurate and thorough diagnosis I believe.
A lot of mental health issues have an up side to them (such as Kim Peek benefitted from), in the case of SZ, there really isnt any upside at all that I am aware of, its entirely a bad thing to have.
Even the medications are horrific, antipsychotic drugs are not something you ever want to be taking, the effects are horrible and the side effects are worse still!
24-12-2009, 08:43 PM
#32
what a shame a brilliant character
im autistic and so is my youngest (it can skip a generation ) any way we visit seminars ect and the speakers quite often refer to people as normal people! well if it wasnt for autistic things would be as good as they are ! For instance bill gates has affected our lives in a very big way and hes earned a fortune
any way sorry to change the thread but read this site http://www.nas.org.uk/ and feel free to donate as they get very little help and a lot of the money raised goes to help people like kim that are in need of help in this so called society
im autistic and so is my youngest (it can skip a generation ) any way we visit seminars ect and the speakers quite often refer to people as normal people! well if it wasnt for autistic things would be as good as they are ! For instance bill gates has affected our lives in a very big way and hes earned a fortune
any way sorry to change the thread but read this site http://www.nas.org.uk/ and feel free to donate as they get very little help and a lot of the money raised goes to help people like kim that are in need of help in this so called society
24-12-2009, 08:51 PM
#33
Too many posts.. I need a life!!
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 731
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Its weird how we vary, Im the opposite of Kim with my brain, im very very good at problem solving, and im good at remembering information I attach importance to, but I have an utterly terrible memory for things that dont interest me, and im bad at learning from a book but good at learning from experience or from engaging with others who have knowledge to transfer, I really struggle to remember what I had to eat a couple of days ago or what I was doing last weekend etc, normal day to day trivia is just totally filtered out by my brain, this is quite common for people who are good at problem solving.
27-12-2009, 11:03 PM
#34
for those that are interetsed, i found these clips on you tube
i found part 4 most interesting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRPxM...eature=related
part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2T45...eature=related
part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJjAb...eature=related
part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Auufb...eature=related
part 5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1aA5...eature=related
edit: just saw the same links on the original link to the mail newspaper, opps
i found part 4 most interesting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRPxM...eature=related
part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2T45...eature=related
part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJjAb...eature=related
part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Auufb...eature=related
part 5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1aA5...eature=related
edit: just saw the same links on the original link to the mail newspaper, opps
Last edited by LHD220Turbo; 27-12-2009 at 11:11 PM.
27-12-2009, 11:29 PM
#35
Ban[B][/B]ned
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: The Pool.
Posts: 34,090
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Uncle is Schizophrenic and I could tell you some stories if anyone is interested. Some amazing stories of paranoia. He's hard work and at this very moment in time I am the only friend he has, other than the ones who use him. He's caused my Mum a lot of upset over the years, and I'm confident in saying he drove their Mother to an early grave. So it's a subject I have a lot of interest in also.
Benni.
Benni.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post