How Do You Spell HYPERMNESIA?

Pronunciation: [hˌa͡ɪpəmnˈiːzi͡ə] (IPA)

Hypermnesia is a term used to describe a condition in which an individual has an exceptional memory for past experiences. The spelling of the word can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet. The first syllable, "hyper," is pronounced as "haɪpər," with the "y" in "hyper" representing the sound "aɪ." The second syllable, "mnesia," is pronounced as "neɪziə," with the "mn" combination pronounced as "n" followed by "ziə," which is similar to the word "amnesia." Overall, the spelling of hypermnesia reflects the Greek origin of the word, where "hyper" means "over" and "mnesia" means "memory."

HYPERMNESIA Meaning and Definition

1. Hypermnesia is a term used in psychology to describe an exceptional and heightened ability to recall memories or information from the past. Derived from the Greek words "hyper," meaning excessive, and "mnesis," meaning memory, hypermnesia can be understood as an exaggerated form of memory retrieval.

   Individuals with hypermnesia often exhibit a capability to access and remember details that are typically forgotten or inaccessible to others. This phenomenon is distinct from "eidetic" or photographic memory, as hypermnesia involves recalling past events rather than visual information. It is characterized by an enhanced capacity to recollect specific details, such as vivid images, conversations, or sensory perceptions associated with past experiences.

   Several factors have been suggested to contribute to hypermnesia, including heightened emotional arousal, mental disorders, trauma, or neurological conditions. The exact mechanisms underlying hypermnesia are still not fully understood by researchers, and it remains a subject of ongoing study and investigation.

   Hypermnesia can be both a remarkable ability and at times a burden, as it may lead to unwanted intrusions of memories in daily life. Some individuals with hypermnesia may struggle to differentiate between past and present experiences, making it challenging to integrate into their current environment.

   While hypermnesia is a relatively rare phenomenon, its study elucidates the intricacies of human memory and cognition, shedding light on how our brains store and retrieve information.

2. Extreme power of memory.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for HYPERMNESIA

• hyperthesia
• hypergesia
• hypomnesia
• hyperpneic
• Hypermnasie
• Hypermnasea
• hyposomnesia
• Hypermonemia

Etymology of HYPERMNESIA

The word "hypermnesia" is derived from two Greek roots: "hyper", meaning excessive or beyond, and "mneme", meaning memory. So, the etymology of "hypermnesia" can be broken down as "hyper" + "mneme" + "-ia" (a suffix denoting a condition or state), hence "hypermnesia" refers to a condition of excessive memory or heightened recall.

Plural form of HYPERMNESIA is HYPERMNESIAS