Man with a 7 Second Memory Still Plays the Piano but Doesn't Know How
Summary
TLDRThis transcript follows Clive Wearing, a renowned conductor who suffers from one of the worst cases of amnesia in the world after a 1985 viral infection. Despite losing the ability to form new memories, retaining only a seven-second memory span, Clive can still play music and recalls certain details from his past. His wife Deborah plays a crucial role in his care. Clive's interactions with family, his confusion, and his surprising calmness despite his condition are explored, revealing the emotional toll on those around him and Clive's unique perspective on life.
Takeaways
- 🧠 Clive Wearing suffers from one of the worst cases of amnesia in the world, with a memory span of just seven seconds.
- 🎶 Despite his memory loss, Clive's ability to play music remains intact, showcasing the preserved musical memory.
- 🦠 Clive's amnesia was caused by a virus that attacked his brain in 1985, destroying crucial parts of his memory system.
- 👩❤️👨 The only person Clive recognizes consistently is his wife, Deborah, even though he can't recall most other details.
- ⌛ Clive has no distinction between day and night, with no dreams or thoughts in his mind — he describes it as being like death.
- 🏡 Clive is going home for the first time in 13 years, yet he has no recollection of ever being in Reading, where he now lives.
- 👶 Clive can still recall details from his childhood, such as phone numbers, even though recent memories are lost.
- 😢 Clive's sister, Adele, finds it difficult to connect with him as his personality and memory have changed significantly.
- 🎻 Clive's youngest son, Edmund, recalls their close bond before the illness, primarily revolving around Clive's work in music.
- ❤️ Deborah, Clive’s wife, has been his constant support for over 20 years, helping him navigate his life with amnesia despite the challenges.
Q & A
Who is Clive Wearing and what condition does he suffer from?
-Clive Wearing is a renowned conductor who suffers from one of the worst cases of amnesia. He lost his memory after being struck down by a virus in 1985, which destroyed parts of his brain.
How does Clive Wearing's condition affect his ability to remember events?
-Clive has a memory span of only seven seconds. After that, his mind goes blank, and he cannot form new memories or recall recent events.
Despite his severe memory loss, what ability has Clive retained?
-Clive has retained his ability to play music, even though he cannot remember playing it afterward.
What is Clive’s perception of day and night, and how does he describe his consciousness?
-Clive perceives no difference between day and night. He describes his state as a continuous blank, similar to death, with no dreams or thoughts.
How did Clive’s wife, Deborah, play a role in his life after his illness?
-Deborah has been a central figure in Clive’s life after his illness, being the only person he initially recognized. She has taken care of him and maintained a strong connection despite his condition.
How does Clive's condition impact his relationship with his family, especially his son and sister?
-Clive has a strained relationship with his family due to his condition. His son Edmund hasn’t seen him in 7 years, and his sister Adele finds it difficult to communicate with him. Clive even became aggressive towards Adele when he didn’t recognize her.
What details from his past can Clive still recall?
-Remarkably, Clive can still remember some details from his childhood, such as numbers and memories from before he became ill.
How does Clive feel about his past life before his illness?
-Clive expresses that he misses his old life, especially as a musician and being in love, though he cannot fully comprehend what he has lost.
What emotions does Clive experience in his current state?
-Despite his severe amnesia, Clive is often calm, peaceful, and content. He retains a part of his personality and is able to analyze his condition, though he forgets soon after.
What challenges did Clive's family face due to his condition?
-Clive's family faced emotional challenges, such as his inability to walk his daughter down the aisle or recognize his grandchildren. His wife Deborah, in particular, struggled with these lost moments.
Outlines
🎶 Clive's Life Before and After Amnesia
Clive Wearing, a renowned conductor, suffered severe amnesia after a viral infection in 1985. Though his brain was severely damaged, his ability to play music remained unaffected. His memory resets every seven seconds, leaving him in a state of confusion. Despite this, he recognizes his wife Deborah, and their relationship remains strong. He retains certain childhood memories, especially numbers, despite his condition.
😔 Struggles with Aggression and Memory
Clive’s sister, Adele, recounts how his amnesia affected their relationship. During a visit, Clive became aggressive, unable to recognize her due to the age difference since his memories are fixed in the past. Adele finds it difficult to converse with Clive as his memory constantly resets, while her husband finds it easier to communicate with him by discussing unrelated topics.
🌍 Clive's Life in the Present
Despite his severe amnesia, Clive remains peaceful and content, unaware of his surroundings or the current time. His calm demeanor, even with no understanding of where he is, reflects a unique state of mind. Clive expresses simple desires like having a cigarette, while waiting for time to pass, unaware of his reality.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Amnesia
💡Virus
💡Memory
💡Music
💡Recognition
💡Seven-second memory
💡Deborah
💡Childhood memory
💡Aggression
💡Calmness
Highlights
Clive Wearing has one of the worst cases of amnesia in the world, completely losing the ability to form new memories.
Despite severe memory loss, Clive's musical abilities, such as conducting and playing, remain unaffected.
Clive only has a seven-second memory span before his mind resets, leaving him constantly unaware of recent events.
Clive was struck down by a virus in 1985, which destroyed parts of his brain responsible for memory but left his musical talent intact.
Clive recognizes only his wife, Deborah, even after 20 years of living with amnesia.
Despite his condition, Clive can recall specific details from his childhood, such as phone numbers and memories predating his illness.
His amnesia has created deep emotional challenges for his family, especially his children, who feel the loss of the father they knew.
Clive's sister, Adele, shares a difficult relationship with him, as he often fails to recognize her and becomes aggressive.
Clive's sense of time is entirely disrupted, with no difference between day and night, equating his existence to being 'dead.'
Clive expresses occasional emotional responses, such as longing for his old life and experiences as a musician.
Despite his profound memory loss, Clive retains a significant portion of his original personality, displaying some cognitive awareness.
Clive's wife, Deborah, has been his primary caregiver and emotional support, shouldering the burden for over 20 years.
Clive's condition has affected important life events, such as not being able to walk his daughter down the aisle or recognize his grandchildren.
Clive remains largely unaware of where he is, the current time, or even the century in which he lives.
Despite his severe condition, Clive's demeanor is surprisingly calm, happy, and content, displaying resilience in the face of his memory loss.
Transcripts
Clive wearing has one of the worst cases
of amnesia in the world I know it's like
we did now they're not the same thing no
difference between dreams and no sense
at all of brain has been totally
inactive no dreams and no thoughts of
any kind whatever Clive was a renowned
conductor living in London when he was
struck down by a virus in 1985 parts of
his brain were completely destroyed
including his memory however his ability
to play music is unaffected do you feel
different when you play music I don't
always like to play with you they are
unconscious you played us some music
about two minutes ago not known to me I
never heard of nosey
Clive's case became known to millions
when a television documentary was made
about him
in 1986 alone and Confused in hospital
without his memory the only person he
recognized was his wife Deborah it's
been long can you just tell me I faked
consciousness for first time I just want
to find what they play how they've been
doing what's being wrong with me
20 years later clive only has a
seven-second memory before his mind goes
blank what has life been like for Clive
and his family
Debra is planning a momentous trip for
Clive best pub in the come if you could
go anywhere where would you like to go
yeah no I see yes yesterday home is
yesterday next Tuesday are we going I
live in Redding I see yeah do you think
you've ever been to writing yes I have
been yes I mean cause everything is busy
you could have gone when how it was
studying yeah I didn't know you'd ever
been there
never mention reading no it's not been
Justin's I have a moment of getting that
yeah not a very interesting place No can
you name a town in Berkshire no I can't
I can't no door do you know where I live
no guess I'm kinda kids with are no no
reading oh really yeah spelt wrong as
from a reading
clive is going home
for the first time in 13 years remember
the number plate un 9 for 1 year and 9
for one back of another car remember the
phone number when you forward she wants
it forth remarkably Clive can still
recall details from his childhood
numbers embedded in his memory before he
became ill there's another guest
expected for lunch Clive's youngest son
Edmund who has not seen his father for 7
years things that I used to do with my
father always revolved around his work
it was weird be either going to see
going to places such as the British
Museum for his research or we'd be going
to concert venues or recording venues we
would often end up in churches and he
could walk into a church or a cathedral
anywhere in Europe and read it like a
book
he had a vast amount of knowledge and
that has just been wiped out it's been a
difficult time
today clive sister Adele has come to see
him
and I used to take his children to see
him but he used to get pretty aggressive
if he was very angry you know there was
one occasion when I went to see him on
my own
and he he just when I said who I was he
attacked me almost you know grabbed hold
of me very aggressively and the staff
came in and sort of calmed it down but
he'd remembered me when I was younger he
just said no you know you're too old
like when how old do you think and he
went off to see when he was fifteen
years I went to the Merchant Navy yeah I
used to go and visit him and it's just
so difficult and and not easy to talk to
him at all my husband we've got no
connection with him found it much easier
he could talk about things that totally
irrelevant and quite happily carry on a
conversation with him but I always found
that extremely difficult thing to do do
you remember Adele sitting next to me
can you remember what she was wearing
no never seen
you're such human beings I've seen three
of you two men and one lady the first
piece people I've seen since Ivan no no
difference in day and night no thoughts
at all no dreams day and night that same
blanket precisely death is it very hard
no exactly the same as being dead which
is not difficult was it we did it's easy
you don't do anything at all I can't do
anything you're dead it's been the same
exactly yes I've never been conscious to
think that so I've never been bored or
upset no be anything same as death no
dreams even day and night the same when
you miss your old life you say yes I
miss my old life what do you miss as a
musician and in love you'll say things
like do you know what it's like and
that's really dangerous because if you
actually did I said yes so at once
because I was just saying yesterday that
was disastrous and then I said that
again scene why because he says you
don't know what it's like how do you
know because he's right isn't he yes
there's no way you're gonna know what
it's like got some fight in him
oh yeah yeah but that's the thing is
probably 3/4 of his personality's still
there functioning normally
he will analyse what's happened he said
well the doctors must be very interested
in this you know it's very unusual case
he worked it all out over and over again
because he doesn't really remember that
he worked it out an hour ago
Deborah's done more for dad than any
other single person I very much doubt
that I could have done that for him and
that's hot that's very hot I think I'd
have given up I would like to say when
it was I really can't remember it's too
hard I wanted him to walk me down the
aisle when I got married and he couldn't
I wanted him to know that I'd had his
grandchildren but he couldn't so he's
he's a lovely person
he's he's Clive now that's gone
considering he's still one of the most
amnesia people in the world
he's pretty peaceful considering he
doesn't know where he is or what century
it is oh well what time he got up that
morning or or that he's in a place where
he lives
considering all of that his state of
mind is extraordinarily calm happy
content and very much himself he's
himself if you could do anything now if
you had free choice what would you do
next I would Jim Thomas a cigarette then
of course waiting for time to allude and
disappear and her arrival
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