From NPR, this is Hidden Brain, I'm Shankar Vedantam.

When Jessica Langamon was 12, she had a favorite TV show.

This is a little embarrassing to admit, but I was crazy about Star Trek.

Space, the final frontier.

One day, several of the actors came to my hometown.

So I begged my mother to take me and I walked up to a table and there was Leonard Nimoy.

Stand by to Bimma.

It was Mr. Spock, the cerebral star of the show, always calm, ever logical.

For years, Jessica had felt a deep kinship with Spock and now here he was, right in front of her.

And of course, I knew every angle of his face, I knew the curve of his ears, I knew everything about him or so I felt.

And when I put my notebook down for him to autograph, he looked at me with complete blank non-recognition.

And I was so confused in that moment. I knew him so well, but he did not know me.

Danny Martinez understands what it's like to feel a deep connection to someone who doesn't know you.

I'd tell you I don't get no respect for anyone, you know?

Oh my God.

I respect it all. Rodney Dangerfield.

I mean, the last week my wife, she's signing up for a bridge club. I jump off next Tuesday.

I remember when Rodney Dangerfield died, I cried. And like I had lost my grandfather.

And no one could understand why I would care so much.

Eric Palileo says his connection with a singer named Anoni was transformational.

He still remembers the moment he first heard her song, Ghost.

From my heart and by your way.

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