Outcomes Pre-intermediate Videoscript
Page 143 Video 6: Memory man
Narrator: Gianni Golfera is in front of a group of people. He’s blindfolded but he can still
show them something that’s amazing. The young Italian man calls it ‘the art of memory’.
First, the people randomly choose 60 numbers. After that, a helper reads the numbers to
Gianni. Then Gianni repeats the numbers in the correct order from memory. First in the order
he heard them, then again, backwards.
Gianni Golfera (translation): It’s a kind of memory that is connected to what I see. It means
that every idea I learn, everything I read, becomes a part of me. Normally, a person who
doesn't have this gift and who hasn't studied memory tends to just forget things - even an
entire book. Not me.
Narrator: Gianni has a special kind of memory. He has memorised more than 250 books.
He also says that he can remember every detail of every day of this life, from the time he was
less than one year old. Memory is very difficult to understand, and scientists don’t really
know how it works. The Golfera family genes may hold important information about
Gianni’s memory. Neurobiologist Dr. Antonio Malgaroli plans to compare the Golfera
family’s genes with the genes of more forgetful families.
Dr. Antonio Malgaroli (translation): The crucial question is to understand which is the
contribution from heredity, and which is the contribution that comes from the environment.
Narrator: When we process new information, such as reading a book or newspaper, it goes
into our brains through the hippocampus. There it's coded as memory. But how is memory
coded? Where is it stored? Why is it stored there? Nobody knows. Nobody knows why some
people lose their memories, or why so few people, like Gianni, never forget things.
Part 2
Narrator: Researchers are now studying how memory and learning change the brain.
They’re also trying to match those changes to specific genes. Some research shows that a
great memory may not depend on the right DNA.
Dr. Antonio Malgaroli (translation): If you really need to use your brain capacity to store
some kind of information, you have this, this ability, and you know, it's just a matter of
exercise.
Narrator: The same idea is true for Gianni. His genes are only part of the story. Since the
age of 11, he's been training his brain to remember. He's practises continuously to improve
the power of his memory. He has even memorised a whole series of historical books. For
Gianni, improving his memory has become almost like a full-time job.
Dr. Antonio Malgaroli (translation): Golfera has an extraordinary ability. The question is,
you know, how much it's really because of, you know, the Golfera family genes and how
much comes from his sort of, you know, maniac type of activity.
Narrator: Gianni’s life is not all about science, though. He has a relatively normal life. He
has a dog and a girlfriend. He likes to take time away from work. In other words, he’s just
like other people - and that's part of what’s so interesting. His genes are partly responsible for
his great memory. However, researchers think it’s mainly because of his very hard work, and
Gianni agrees. He even offers proof. He holds classes to teach people how to improve their
memories. His system involves organisation and hard work- basically learning how to
remember to remember.
Gianni Golfera (translation): I think the only problem with memory is getting the correct
order. There is a lot of brain space so I think there are no limits.
Narrator: If there is a memory gene, Gianni Golfera probably has it. But the success of ‘the
memory man’ may be more about determination than DNA. Gianni’s practice and hard work
are making his memory even better. He might just be showing scientists that a great memory
can be made and not just born.
