Stanford’s Encyclopedia of Philosophy says: ![]() After all, a perfect memory is what is usually implied by the commonly used phrase “photographic memory.”Īs it turns out, however, the accuracy of many eidetic images is far from perfect. You might expect that an individual who claims to still see a picture after it has been removed would be able to have a perfect memory of the original picture. The recalled images aren’t necessarily accurate. It goes on to say that the images in eidetic memory are not the same as what people mean by “photographic memory”. ![]() Furthermore, once gone from view, rarely can an eidetic image ever be retrieved. Unlike common visual images created from memory, most eidetic images last between about half a minute to several minutes only, and it is possible to voluntarily destroy an eidetic image forever by the simple act of blinking intentionally. Second, a common visual image that we can all create from memory (such as an image of a bedroom) does not have the characteristics of most eidetic images, which almost always fade away involuntarily and part by part.Īlso, it is not possible to control which parts of an eidetic image fade and which remain visible. In contrast, a true eidetic image doesn’t move as you move your eyes, and it is in the same color as the original picture. (For example, a flash camera can produce afterimages: the flash is bright white, but the afterimage is a black dot, and the dot moves around every time you move your eyes.) Scroll down for more details, including information on how to test your “eidetic” or “photographic” memory!Īn article in Scientific American describes eidetic images as a kind of mental image that doesn’t move around when you move your eyes.Įidetic images differ from other forms of visual imagery in several important ways.įirst, an eidetic image is not simply a long afterimage, since afterimages move around when you move your eyes and are usually a different color than the original image. In the first part of this post, we’ll look at eidetic memory, and in the second part we’ll look at photographic memory. If it exists, it’s almost exclusively found in children.Įven if eidetic imagery exists, it doesn’t improve memory performance, so it’s probably a mistake to refer to a concept called “eidetic memory”.Įidetic imagery is not exactly the same as photographic memory, which also probably doesn’t exist. Unfortunately, eidetic memory is a poorly understood concept that might not even exist. Either way, how the concept is used in fictional shows throughout entertainment history is pretty exciting and mesmerizing.Eidetic memory is the controversial idea that some people are able to form special images in their minds that help them remember things “photographically”. In reality, it's unclear if there is actually anyone in the world who possesses true photographic memory. RELATED: Every Stephen King Book Character With Psychic Powers While the idea of eidetic, photographic, or both types of memory have been depicted in plenty of television series and movies for decades (Rain Man immediately comes to mind), each has taken its own unique twist on the concept. An eidetic memory refers to someone who can see an object for a short period after it is no longer present while true photographic memory is when someone can remember full pages of text or numbers in great detail. ![]() There are slight differences between the two terms, which are often used interchangeably. Known technically as an eidetic memory, someone with this condition can remember images in great detail, even after they only see them once. Having a photographic memory can be considered both a blessing and a curse.
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