Blind People have better serial memory

A study by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem found that blind individuals are particularly adept at remembering things in the right order.

According to researchers Noa Raz and Ehud Zohary of Hebrew University, the study shows that mental capabilities might be enhanced in order to compensate for the lack of sensory input.

The researchers tested the performance of 19 congenitally blind individuals and individually matched sighted controls in two types of memory tasks. The blind individuals recalled more words than the sighted, and many in their original order.

The researchers believe that the superior memory of the blind is a result of practice. "In the absence of vision, the world is experienced as a sequence of events. Since the blind constantly use serial memory strategies in everyday circumstances, they tend to develop superior skills," Zohary said.

The study is published in the journal Current Biology.