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Talk:Enhanced memory

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Revision as of 11:19, 19 September 2009 by imported>50000JH (→‎Wiping the mind: new section)
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Ability Naming Conventions
The following sources are used for determining evolved human ability names, in order:
1. Canon Sources Episodes
Webisodes,
Graphic Novels,
iStories,
Heroes Evolutions
3. Secondary Sources Episode commentary,
Interviews,
Heroes: Survival
4. Common names for abilities Names from other works
5. Descriptions of abilities Descriptions
6. Possessor's name If no non-speculative
description is possible

Note: The highlighted row represents the level of the source used to determine enhanced memory's name.
Source/Explanation
Explicitly named in Matt Neuenberg's primatechpaper.com profile.

Brain non-removal

  • Sylar did not remove Charlie's brain (at least not most of it) according to this picture. What's the word meaning partial decapitation again? This could lend support to the theory that Sylar couldn't take Charlie's power because of the brain clot. --Fcphantom 23:59, 11 December 2006 (EST)
    • You're absolutely right -- I've had a problem with people saying that Sylar automatically absorbed Charlie's power. She did have her skull sliced, and at least part of her brain was removed (encephalectomy), but nothing beyond that was confirmed ... Good point about the aneurysm. - RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 00:16, 12 December 2006 (EST)
  • I disagree the picture shows she got her Brain Cut Off and Why sylar tends to Remember Eden in the Cell. Only time will tell If Sylar Exhibit more of her powers. And she had a Lisp. Red
  • As I look at the picture several times, I can't tell for certain whether the brain was removed or not. The section that looks like it may be the brain still in the skull could very well be the inside of her empty skull, not the brain. Unless we have definitive proof that he did not get her brain, we need to make it clear that it's currently unknown whether her brain was removed or not. (Admin 21:52, 5 January 2007 (EST))
  • If I recall correctly Hiro went back in time to rescue Charlie, they went to Vegas were she told him that she had the tumor. Back to the present Ando is still at the roadhouse where he asks what happend to Charlie they said she died from the brain tumor, so Sylar does not have this ability, unless I've forgotten something (Karkadann)
    • You've forgotten a few things. Check out Six Months Ago again--they never went to Vegas. Charlie did tell Hiro that she had a blood clot in her brain "inches away from an aneurysm", but she didn't die from it. Hiro told Ando, "I couldn't save her. I couldn't save Charlie...I failed." Then, in the end of the episode during the recap, Charlie is shown again being killed by Sylar. Also, right before Sylar passes out on Kirby Plaza (How to Stop an Exploding Man), he has a memory of killing Charlie. Had Hiro saved Charlie, or had she died of a blood clot (or tumor), Sylar would not have had that memory. It's worth watching Six Months Ago again--that was a terrific episode! -- RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 13:03, 21 November 2007 (EST)

Name

Did the producers ever say the name of this power is canon? Heroe 22:52, 8 March 2007 (EST)

  • No. "Eidetic memory" is just a really good memory. Personally, I don't think it's such a great name for the power, since lots of humans have eidetic memories--Mozart, for example. — RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 23:05, 8 March 2007 (EST)
    • Is there a name the producers used for the power? Heroe 23:09, 8 March 2007 (EST)
      • We could change it to "Enhanced memory", which is a naming convention we've established with Enhanced strength and Enhanced hearing. --Ted C 09:31, 9 March 2007 (EST)
        • I like "enhanced memory". — RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 10:59, 9 March 2007 (EST)
          • Yeah I like that too. I'm for moving it. Heroe 19:18, 9 March 2007 (EST)
            • I hate the term enhanced memory, or enhanced strength or enhanced hearing. When you say enhanced, to me and probably to other people, you're saying that it is just outside human levels. In Charlie, Niki and Dale's case, I would call that superhuman since it is above and beyond human levels. Look, if Niki was just outside human levels of strength she couldn't rip a safe door off its hinges or tear people in half. Blind people have enhanced hearing. Dale on the other hand can hear the slightest changes in a person's heartbeat and breathing, footsteps from far away, a rainstorm in another city and etc. It doesn't sound like enhanced hearing to me. Charlie is like a sponge with her memory. She absorbs almost everything around her and automatically memorizes anything from events, images, words, etc. and instantly understanding it and able to use the information in conjunction. That doesn't sound like Enhanced Memory. While I would call Niki and Dale's powers, superhuman strength and hearing, for Charlie's memory powers, it sounds incredibly tacky to say superhuman memory. A little more tacky than enhanced memory but not by much. Instead I would say something like eidetic memory. Mozart and other people had a photographic memory. Eidetic is stronger than a photographic memory. Elemental5293 22:08, 4 January 2008 (EST)
              • But Charlie, Niki, and Dale are all still human (more specifically, evolved humans), so being just outside human levels would make sense. But "enhanced" does not mean "just outside human "levels"--it means "made greater", "augmented", "improved", or "advanced", all of which would describe the powers you mentioned just fine. Though "superhuman" also makes sense, I don't see the need to change a perfectly good adjective like "enhanced". As for "eidetic memory" (which does redirect here, by the way), that's pretty much the same thing as a photographic memory (see Wikipedia:Eidetic memory). I'm not sure where you're getting that one is "stronger" than the other...but I think you might be kind of contradicting yourself in saying that "enhanced" should be changed because regular humans can have enhanced senses, since regular humans can also have eidetic memories--Monet has been described to have an eidetic memory, as have contemporaries like Tom Morton and Akira Haraguchi. -- RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 22:35, 4 January 2008 (EST)

Understanding

I don't think we can say that superior understanding is a component of this power. The ability to understand and comprehend things with supernatural speed is Sylar's power. Being able to pick up on Japanese fairly quickly is largely a matter of memory; being able to drive a truck after just reading the manual is not. --Ted C 16:53, 19 March 2007 (EDT)

  • Personally, I disagree--I think Charlie comprehended what she learned, and I think (based on Jason Badower's comments) that Sylar did not use intuitive aptitude to drive the truck, but pure enhanced memory. ... But that's just my opinion, and I don't necessarily think it even needs to go into the article. As it currently reads, I think the article implies comprehension. — RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 18:13, 19 March 2007 (EDT)

Did Peter tap this power in 'Out of Time'

When he 'met' his mother in the future, and didn't remember her, but started concentrating, like he does when he pulled out TK, TS, etc....I sure thought he tapped into this yet-untapped power. --HiroDynoSlayer (talk) 11/5/2007 23:59 (EST)

  • I personally don't believe he did. I think it was just the rush of memories returning to him. He was remembering a lot of things from his youth, too, which would have been before he acquired the power. In any event we certainly can't add it since it's inconclusive. (Admin 00:03, 6 November 2007 (EST))
    • Purely speculative, but I think she had something to do with it directly. --Riddler 00:05, 6 November 2007 (EST)
    • I actually thought he was using telepathy to read her memories, but it wouldn't explain why he sees her face, so I'm gonna go with Admin on this one. But yes, pure speculation on any involvement of powers...I'd leave it as a rush of memories.--Bob (talk) 00:13, 6 November 2007 (EST)
      • I think we will find out very soon, that the Haitian was involved in stripping Peter's memories (for whatever yet-revealed reason). With that card in play, I don't see how Peter would 'naturally' just get all of his memory back. Either Angela's unknown power was used, or Peter managed to tap into either Charlie or Matts power to get that rush going. Yes, it is speculative, but I wanted to throw it out there to see if others noticed it too in that manner, and so that by bringing it up, perhaps more than just me might be watching out for any possible upcoming Charlie-moves by Peter that might substantiate this notion. --HiroDynoSlayer (talk) 11/6/2007 14:52 (EST)
        • It had the same noise as telepathy, which could have been used to let Peter tap into his own mind and/or his mother's and retrive some memorys of his mother. If he had Charilie's power he should of remembered a lot more and not just his mother. All the image flashbacks where of Angela. --User:Dave 11/6/2007 20:19 (GMT)
  • I beleive that he got part of his memorys back in Out Of Time by inadvertly using regeneration the same way Adam taught him to do in 4 Months Ago.--Iceman 15:35, 14 November 2007 (EST)

Rename

In Heroes: The Official Magazine, an article calls this power "accelerated learning" and "eidetic memory". I'm not sure how canonical the magazine is yet, but it's certaintly higher than the "descriptive name" we have right now. --Hero!(talk)(contribs) 17:44, 2 January 2008 (EST)

  • Do you know who wrote the article and whether someone in particular was being quoted at the time? (Admin 17:47, 2 January 2008 (EST))
  • Rob Francis is the author's name, and no, it wasn't quoting someone. --Hero!(talk)(contribs) 18:16, 2 January 2008 (EST)
    • Not in a million years should we rename it with those. No offense. But if you read Saving charlie, I think we should rename it Super Memory. Trust me, you'll totally understand why. She remembers everything! More than just learning. She can remember everything she already learned as a child and everything she learns now. She doesn't play chess because she's afraid that she'll remember good moves and beat people too easily. After you read the book you should reconsider "super". It really shows the exaggeration and the truth of her ability. I don't like eidetic memory because people actually have it but their not as nearly as adapt as their ability as charlie. Jason Garrick 21:55, 2 January 2008 (EST)
      • But does it actually use the phrase "super memory" in the text? 'Cause if not, it's not a legitimate option. --Hero!(talk)(contribs) 22:04, 2 January 2008 (EST)
  • Eidetic memory already links here since the article was once named such. See the previous discussion here. -- RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 21:56, 2 January 2008 (EST)
  • Neither are the ones in the magazine. Eidetic memory is out. And Charlie doesn't only have accelerated learning. That is only part of her power. So the fact that this is being voted for a name change is a waste of time. Any suggestions that accurately describe the power are legitimate for a vote. Don't delete other options. The Heroes magazine is not on the power naming template. I say we take down the name change and if it comes up again in an interview or if I find something then we can put it back up. Jason Garrick 23:10, 2 January 2008 (EST)
    • The magazine does mention both terms. Turn to page 43 and look under the "I've Got the Power" section under the blurb for Seven Minutes to Midnight. "Waitress Charlie Andrews is capable of accelerated learning and possesses and eidetic memory." As for canonicity, I believe it is equal with secondary sources like commentaries and interviews. --Hero!(talk)(contribs) 23:15, 2 January 2008 (EST)
      • Heroe, neither of those two terms covers her entire ability, but enhanced memory does.--MiamiVolts (talk) 23:30, 2 January 2008 (EST)
        • *sigh* My point is that those two terms are canon, and the current name is not. -_- --Hero!(talk)(contribs) 23:32, 2 January 2008 (EST)
          • The magazine is certainly not a canon source, and is only considered equal with secondary sources if an article is written by a cast or crew member, or quotes a cast or crew member. Rob Francis is not affiliated with Heroes as far as I know, so his description of Charlie's power holds no more weight than any other suggestion. -- RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 23:36, 2 January 2008 (EST)
      • I don't understand why a magazine article, written by someone not affiliated with Heroes, would have any more weight than, say, ActivatingEvolution.org. Both are official sources, in that they're sanctioned by the creators, but neither contains content developed by the writers or producers of the show. They're certainly not on par with an interview or the like, and I can think of no reason to prefer somebody else's descriptive name over ours--particularly when we know that she has one power, not two (even if it manifests as two separate aspects, which I'm not sure it does.)--Hardvice (talk) 12:40, 3 January 2008 (EST)
        • I vote eidetic memory. Super memory is kinda bad. Elemental5293 22:13, 4 January 2008 (EST)
          • Eidetic memory isn't a special ability. A lot of normal people have eidetic memory. --Ice Vision (talk) 22:38, 4 January 2008 (EST)
            • Hiro calls it "Velly Big Memolly." :P I think Super/Enhanced Memory is fine. We changed Enhanced Strength to Super Strength laaaaate even though they called it that early on in Season One, so why not Super Memory? --NellaBishop 11:17, 5 January 2008 (EST)
              • You're right, Hiro does call it "big memory", and that's canon but it doesn't accurately describe the ability (it leaves out the accelerated aspect of the ability). "Super" is not a word used to describe Charlie's memory so I see no reason to prefer it over "enhanced". Also, since Charlie's brain trouble(s) may or may not be a side effect of the ability, I hesitate to call it "super".--MiamiVolts (talk) 12:43, 5 January 2008 (EST)
                • Would any one agree that super is different from enhanced though? I think the two are very different. Enhanced is, you know, just enhanced. Super really emphasizes the limits of the power. Charlie can remember her entire life. Everything she has ever read word for word. I think that is pretty super. But if an interview with a Six Months Ago writer comes up in the future we should ask. Until then I think we should just set this discussion to bed. The same argument was in the Enhanced Speed too. Except I don't think Enhanced hearing should be changed because in Young Avengers, i think it was issue 12, one of the characters calls his power enhanced hearing. Jason Garrick 16:40, 6 January 2008 (EST)

Memorable Quotes

  • While I don't currently see any need to reduce the quotes on this page, I'd say it's at its limit. Any more, and some will have to go to the big quotes archive. --Ted C 09:27, 15 January 2008 (EST)
    • Agree. (It's good to see you around when you can make it, Ted!) -- RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 11:08, 15 January 2008 (EST)

Interesting read

Just thought I'd share, enjoy.--Bob (talk) 18:05, 28 April 2008 (EDT)

  • Yeah, I read that article. It was really interesting. I think Charlie's is a little bit more powered. I remember reading another article about someone like that, prob the same person, and they said that they can never focus on what they need to do because they are always thinking about what they did. Jason Garrick 18:24, 30 April 2008 (EDT)
  • Would the term "hyperthymesia" be an accurate term to describe this power? --Psiphiorg 19:59, 16 May 2008 (EDT)
    • According to Wikipedia, the superior memory is specific to one's own life--an "autobiographical memory". That doesn't describe what Matt and Charlie can do... -- RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 20:11, 16 May 2008 (EDT)

Enhanced memory extravaganza

Any idea on why this ability became so popular among Heroes:Survival and the iStory? Also, can someone tell me how many more characters with this ability am I supposed to expect? Intuitive Empath - Talk - Contributions 17:08, 16 September 2009 (EDT)

Wiping the mind

Would this be the only ability that the Haitain would not be able to wipe a person memory from. 50000JH