The memory Eidetic Photographic Is the ability to recall very vivid images of a stimulus, despite having been exposed to it for a very brief period of time.
The memory is characterized by high precision and great luxury of details, without using any technique or mnemonic techniques.
It is a type of Sensory memory , In which the individual possesses the ability to retrieve stored information as if it were a photograph that can be observed for a few minutes.
"Eidetics"comes from the Greek word"εἶδος"(or"eidos"), which means"form." The term was established by the German psychologist Erich Rudolf Jaensch in 1929.
On the other hand, the concept of eidetic image refers to the post-perception image that stands out for being more vivid and durable than other images (Paivio & Cohen, 1977). This means that not everything that is perceived is going to be stored in eidetic memory, but only some events or images.
People who possess the so-called"hypertrophy of eidetic memory"can remember any element they have seen, imagined, or heard, even though they have only ever perceived it.
This condition does not appear to be hereditary, and is lost with age if the individual is not aware that he has it and, therefore, does not train it. Sometimes it is associated with children diagnosed with Asperger syndrome Y autism .
It has been shown that eidetic memory appears in a small percentage of children, aged between 6 and 12 years. On the other hand, it is practically non-existent in adults (Haber, 1979).
Some researchers have explained this phenomenon of age, establishing the hypothesis of considering eidetic memory as a form of immature memory. Little by little this way of remembering is replaced by more abstract representations, as cognitive abilities are acquired more advanced with the age.
However, a 1979 Haber review study found that eidetic skills remained very stable throughout the preschool and school years. In addition, this type of memory seems to be unrelated to abstract thinking or reading performance.
Does having good memory mean having eidetic memory?
What characterizes this phenomenon is that it seems that eidetic memory is independent of other types of memory and does not seem to have demonstrated relationship with other cognitive, emotional or neurological abilities.
Have a good memory It is not the same as possessing eidetic memory skills. This last type of memory is distinctive, since after stopping seeing the stimulus or situation, the element remains very sharp for a few minutes before fading.
It is distinguished from other types of memory, since this capacity is not present when it comes to remembering texts, numbers, words, autobiographical facts in general, etc.
It is similar to contemplating a photograph, so sometimes it is also called photographic memory.
Is eidetic memory the same as photographic memory?
Usually these two terms are used interchangeably. However, they may have different meanings.
Eidetic memory implies an almost faithful mental image, as if it were a photograph, of the remembered event. However, according to Kujawski Taylor (2013), not only are visual characteristics stored, but also auditory elements and other varied sensory perceptions that are experienced together.
On the other hand, strictly photographic memory is a very strange phenomenon that still doubts its true existence. It consists of the ability to remember numbers or texts with great detail and precision without the typical visualization that accompanies eidetic memory.
An example of photographic memory would be to briefly look at the page of a book and then recite it by heart.
According to Hudmon (2009), photographic memory is rare. It explains that achieving the same degree of fidelity as reality is almost impossible for our memory . This occurs because memory depends on subjective aspects, and tends to be altered with distortions and additions. Although it can be more detailed than normal in cases of eidetic memory.
Different authors consider the photographic memory as the voluntary recovery of a memory, being able to examine it in detail, and even"zooming"in certain parts. This is more a myth than a reality, since we have not found real cases in which this phenomenon occurs.
Is it frequent to have eidetic memory?
As mentioned above, this type of memory is only found in children. More specifically, between 2 and 10% of children between the ages of 6 and 12 years.
There are authors such as Hudmon (2009) who argue that children possess much more eidetic memory capacity than adults for developmental changes. For example, the acquisition of language skills could reduce the potential of eidetic images.
In fact, research has shown that verbalizing something while observing an image causes interference in the formation of the eidetic image.
Adults, unlike children, tend to encode images both verbally and visually. For this reason, it is possible that they interrupt the eidetic images and therefore, do not experience them like the children.
How is this type of memory evaluated?
The most common way to check if a person is eidetic, is through the"Picture Elicitation Method"that can be translated as"Method of Evocation of Images".
The procedure is to present the person with an unknown image that they should explore for about 30 seconds. Then the image is hidden and the person with the still fixed eye on the screen is asked to indicate all the details he has observed in the photo.
Apparently, for people with eidetic memory is very easy to describe the photo with great detail as they can continue to see it for a short period of time (from one minute to several minutes). For them, it is as if the image remained physically present and can report on extraordinary details of it.
It is distinguished from other visual images in which they do not disappear even though they move their eyes (as after watching the flash of a camera), nor do they change colors. That is why they can answer questions about the exact color of an element very hidden in the image. However, this memory is not absolutely perfect, although it is considered much more intense than that of non-eidetic persons.
Another aspect that characterizes it, is that once it fades, can not recover as at the beginning.
On the internet you can find many online tests to evaluate your eidetic and visual memory capacity, although keep in mind that its reliability can be very limited.
The debate of the eidetic memory: what is its magnitude?
Throughout history, many have shown skepticism about the existence of eidetic memory.
It all started when in 1970 Charles Stromeyer decided to study his future wife, Elizabeth. She claimed to be able to remember a poem written in a language she did not know even years after she had first seen the poem. He also seemed to be able to remember patterns of random points with great precision. At present, it remains the only documented case that has successfully conducted such a test.
However, many doubt the veracity of this phenomenon and criticize the possible procedures used. He has also questioned the fact that Charles marries his"research subject", and that she refuses to repeat the tests later to demonstrate their capabilities.
Later, cognitive scientist Marvin Minsky in his book"The Society of Mind"(1988) once again questioned the existence of eidetic memory, but more specifically, photographic memory. He thought this kind of memory is an unfounded myth.
Moreover, what complicates it is that there is no scientific consensus on the nature, definition and even existence of eidetic memory, even in children.
A scientific skeptic named Brian Dunning examined in 2016 the existing literature on eidetic and photographic memory. He concluded that there is a lack of convincing evidence of eidetic memory in healthy adults. Like photographic memory, it does not present clear evidence.
However, more than a matter of existence or non-existence, what determines that a memory is exceptional is its degree or extension.
Therefore, the eidetic memory could be a greater accentuation of memories. Although within normal limits. That is, we do not recover the exact details of the things we memorize, but the memories are reconstructed guided by expectations.
In fact, the brain constantly distorts the past, and modifies the memories with each recovery of these. For this reason, the eidetic memory is very detailed, but not so much as one has been able to think.
More research is needed to further specify the concept, extent, and qualities of eidetic memory; And thus resolve the existing debate.
Eidetic memory training
It is widely known that memory, in its various types, You can train And empower.
Conceptually, eidetic memory in theory should not be based on mnemonic processes, or cognitive strategies, nor be the result of a hard daily training.
In theory, it is childlike and it is thought that if it is not born with it, it is impossible to develop it.
However, one may be able to train the ability to remember images, without having to want to reach the level of an eidetic individual. By spending a little time each day and increasing the complexity of the exercises, you can enhance this ability.
In this article You will see concrete exercises to begin to train your visual memory.
References
- Andrew Hudmon (2009). Learning and Memory. P. 52. New York: Infobase Publishing.
- Annette Kujawski Taylor (2013). Encyclopedia of Human Memory [3 volumes]. California: Greenwood Press.
- Does Photographic Memory Exist? (S.f.). Retrieved on November 14, 2016, by Scientific American.
- Eidetic Memory . (S.f.). Retrieved on November 14, 2016, from Wikipedia.
- Haber, R.N. (1979). Twenty years of haunting eidetic imagery: where's the ghost? Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 2 (4), pp. 583-629.
- Paivio, A., & Cohen, M. (1977). Eidetic Imagery and Figural Abilities in Children.
- Rivas, A. (February 10, 2015). Photographic Memory Test: Are You Able To Remember Everything You've Seen In Vivid Detail? Retrieved from Medical Daily.
- Searleman, A. (s.f.). Is there such a thing as a photographic memory? And if so, can it be learned? Retrieved on November 14, 2016, Scientifican American.