Eidetic Memory
A major debate has been raging over the last several decades concerning whether eidetic memory - also known as photographic memory - actually exists.
At the moment, the general consensus seems to be that photographic memories may well be myths, and, although there are be several techniques that claim to make developing a photographic memory possible, it could be that all these techniques are capable of is improving basic memory function.
Just what is photographic memory and whether such a thing actually exists are questions that have been asked for quite a while because understanding what total - or perfect - recall is would make it easier for people to develop a photographic memory.
Tests designed to prove the existence of the memory photographic have, unfortunately, not proved successful so far. These tests, which can loosely be defined as photographic memory exercises, make use of eidetic imagery, and, here, people are presented with highly detailed images and are asked to study them for at least 40 seconds. The more accurately a person is able to describe the image after it is removed from his sight, the more that person is thought to have perfect recall.
How to develop a photographic memory - if indeed such a thing exists - is another area of great debate, and, while memory can be improved through the use of techniques like mnemonics, no final answer has yet been found to the burning question of how to get a photographic memory.
Getting enough rest and undergoing regular exercise and regular mental stimulation are all things that facilitate developing a good memory, but whether they are also useful with developing photographic memory is another thing entirely.
Pure photographic memory in children has been found to be far more developed than such memory in adults, and children are capable of retaining a much more accurate eidetic definition of an image than adults are.
Studying a child undergoing photographic memory training and testing would, however, not be a good way to determine how to get photographic memory capabilities as a child’s brain has been shown to make a shift from right-brain intuitive thinking to left-brain rational thinking at about age 4. A young child’s brain is therefore wired differently than an adult’s brain, and it would appear that a child’s photographic memory techniques disappear along with their intuitive-based thinking capabilities.
Although some people have been blessed with better and more competent memories than others, there seems to be no hard and fast way to get a photographic memory. How to have photographic memory capabilities will, no doubt, continue to perplex scientists for years to come and will result in the development of more and more tests.
Those rumored to have an eidetic memory hold an almost mystical place in our society - Mozart, engineer Nikola Tesla and Kim Peek, the real “Rain Man”, being but three - and how to have a photographic memory is therefore something that will haunt us for a long time to come.
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Hello.
I believe I have true eidetic memory, I have spent a while studying the topic, and every description was literally describing myself. My memories stay with me for a very long time, I haven’t forgotten many since I was 4. Is there any way to erase the bad memories? To make them vanish. They haunt me. In my sleep i am constantly having nightmares, i cannot wake up from them because i think they are real, some of them are past events. Events that i wish i could forget, ones that i want gone. My head seems full, too full. I seem to “misplace” memories inside my head, other memories slightly similiar to the one “misplaced” make me “find” it again. I wish i could simply remove a ton of memories. Please help.
Scarlett,
Thanks for sharing your story with us, and sorry for the delay in replying.
We’ve actually just published a new article that was inspired by your question, so we hope you find it helpful:
http://eideticmemory.org/reasons-a-photographic-memory-isnt-always-what-its-cracked-up-to-be-techniques-for-forgetting/
Sounds like PTSD…
Hi Scarlett. I have an eidetic memory too. But I have found a way to block out unwanted memories like a “light switch” almost. I can’t say how, to a tee, but with practice, and really challenging yourself, pushing yourself to the limits with certain things that you do everyday, so that you are utilizing a huge portion of your potential, you will begin to focus much of your (massive) brain power elsewhere. I block out negative events, like minor fights with my husband, within a day, and they are stored very deep, so we choose to go to Counseling so our issues actually get resolved. Another example, is when I get home from work, I block out all Responsibilities, so that I am not thinking and focusing on them on my limited time off. I’m still learning how to categorize my responsibilities and only block out Work-related ones rather than personal ones (like pay the parking ticket, or go buy milk), but my reminder apps and husband are helping me through it.
The best thing you can do with horrible memories is resolve them. For example if a friend came to me with bad memories of being abused as a baby by her sister, the overall best thing to do is get in touch and rebuild the relationship with the sister, and discover that she deeply and horrifically regrets those actions, then forgive. We may not be able to forget those kind or block those out ever, so it’s necessary to come to peace with those memories, as painful as they are.
In order to advance to a level of controlling your memories, master your thoughts. You must take every thought captive, and control what you allow your brain to focus on. Channel that brainpower into thinking positively about everything and everyone that you see and you will train your brain over time that negative thoughts or memories are worth visiting at the right time, but most of the time you can be happy, positive, loving and accepting, thinking positive about everything and everyone. Good luck on your journey.
What’s wrong with a “to do” list?
“What’s wrong with a “to do” list?
ans: Nothing, if you can remember where you put it.
My brain puts a mental ‘image’ of most everything I do, say, hear, or see. Even the nontangible abstract thoughts. I think in these images and each image is in its own location in space for me. There really is such a thing as someone using images to remember. Most, if not all, of my memories of all levels of importance, are of this sort. It isn’t always a blessing.
Randy Thompson
I agree with you guys. It is difficult for some people with eidetic memory to overcome some bad memories from the past. I think it takes an extra effort in the inner development because we are then forced to always forgive because to forget becomes impossible.
Hi, I am 21 and I to have eidetic memory, I can remember every little detail of my life since the age of 3. I can also mimic singers, play 8 different instruments, speak 5 different languages, and can look at a picture and draw it. I also can memorize an entire novel with in a week. Or a full page within 30 minutes. And most of my life I was self taught because it was faster. I don’t have nightmares about my past like other per say but I do remember all of my nightmares like they happened yesterday.
I know the feeling, much is the same for me. It makes us feel like we are so separated from the rest of humanity, but be assured, you are not alone and we are very unique in the best way possible.
I have a strange ability to see the tread pattern of moving tractor tire after looking away or just after closing my eyes while looking at the rotating tire. It’s like my brain freezes the image right after I look away. I’ve always thought it was common and dismissed it, but lately I’ve asked other people if they experience the same thing, and they look bewildered. Do you know if anyone has experienced this, I’m not sure why the still image flashes after I look away, but have not researched it.
Is this some form of Eidetic Memory?
I had an eidetic memory as a child. I am just starting to do research on it. With me it most commonly happens with highway billboards. I glance at them and read them after I pass them. The last time I remember having conscious use of my memory was when I was taking a test in second grade. I couldn’t remember the answer, so I closed my eyes and looked it up in the textbook.
Shana,
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Do you have any insight at all into how this works, or does it just happen for you at a sub-conscious level?
I’m not Shana but I thought that I’d hijack this thread for a bit to help answer your question. I’m 53 years old and I still flash up pictures of things that happened as far back as when I was around 3-4 years old, like the day that my imaginary playmates rode off on top of a train and I never “saw” them again… or when, after parental cajoling, I threw my pacifier out of the car window on a trip. I remember actually doing that and the emotions that followed (shock and sadness) from images that my mind pops up for me or the memory that no one else has of the nice police officer who stopped to help my dad change a flat when we were on vacation or when the car overheated in the mountains… all are sub-conscious images making an appearance, but, I digress…). Actually, this subject is causing a lot of images to flash at me 🙂
I’ve recently realized that I recall an event by seeing it in my mind as a photograph or snapshot…sometimes I see it as a video along with emotions, sometimes it’s just a flash that pops. I can take tests by visualizing my notes or the page of a book where the answer is. My eyes will even visibly roam the page/image to find the answer. A boss once told me that that was cheating!
I don’t memorize everything, though. Usually cramming the night before a test works best for me because the pages are fresh in my memory but I’m not be able to quote the words that are on the page. I just find the exact information that I need because I know where on the page that it exists. The image pops up, I get the answer, and then I “close” the book.
For events or places or people, an image of the scene of the event or person will just pop up as I’m trying to recall the memory.
So, for me, I think that this happens both at a sub-conscious level and as a conscious intent to find a memory in my mental file cabinet. For tests, it’s a conscious attempt to pull up the page with the answer. I’m actively “looking” for that image in my mind. But for most of the rest of my life, it’s from my sub-conscious. For example, someone may ask me where I stayed in Cairns during its last solar eclipse and an image of my daughter viewing the eclipse on the balcony of the hotel, will just flash in my mind. That’s how I access the information about which hotel we stayed at.
I used to travel internationally on business a lot and, if I try to remember where I stayed, I’ll see a scene, the way it actually occurred, of me on the hotel bed, laptop in hand, working on something. That triggers the memory of the hotel. Or, if I want to recall where I was when I wrote some procedure, I might see the same scene as above, because that’s where I wrote it. I can access the hotel, the procedure, the TV show I was watching, or the city that I was in from that one image. So, I don’t see one distinct image for each thing I’m trying to recall. Rather, one image can relay lots of different information.
That same image will appear even if I’m asked the hotel name today and then, years later, I’m asked the city where I wrote the procedure.
For recalling stored memories, I may “look” in my mental file cabinet for a second and then pull out an image of what I need. But, the image might not contain the answer specifically; it just brings me back to the memory of the event which can trigger the answer that I need.
I’ve asked other people, “How do you recall an event (or a person, etc.? How do you find that event in your mind?” After looking at me oddly for a bit, they usually say ‘I don’t know, I just remember it.” But, for me, the photo flashes before me, usually in bits and fragments, but it triggers the memory. This only works for visual events, not auditory. I don’t remember things that are told to me as well as I remember things that I see. If someone gives me their phone number, my mind will visualize a telephone keypad, I “look” at each number of the phone number on the pad. That way, I made something auditory into something visual so that I can remember it.
I have always said that “I can forgive but I can never forget.” I remember a nasty co-worker delivering harsh untruths about my performance to me like it happened yesterday, along with all my emotions at the time. I’ve since forgiven her but I will never forget that she did that. Worse, I can never not “see” the scene over and over whenever I think about that moment.
Kelly,
Thanks for sharing your story.
I am 40 years old, and having an eidetic memory has been a gigantic pain in the a**. I remember stupid things verbatim with every sense – sound/sight/smell/touch/taste. To get even more obscure, I can remember the exact position of people according to the square tiles they were standing on, the position of their body, and reflections in a nearby mirror at the time of a memory.
My memory seems to only have full recall when I’m paying attention, not full attention, just mostly.
I have had numerous fights throughout my entire life because I vividly remember EVERYTHING that happened at the prior moment they were speaking of. It made no sense to me that most people do not have the same “type” of memory as I do, so I ended up arguing with them about what really happened…and they still didn’t remember it that way, even after telling them and trying to recall their memory!!!
I finally learned to accept that most people have a different memory process, and can’t even remember as much as a lower mammal, but I just have to put up with it. Sorry, just venting.
PS: I am a genius according to Mensa and also never developed wisdom teeth (I heard they sometimes don’t break through, but mine never existed even in the jaw, which I heard happens in 1 out of ~20 people nowadays.
One last comment about bad memories.
Until last year I only recalled 10-15% of my childhood home life until 7th grade.
I remember everything in school including teachers, friends and even neighbors helping me with flash cards learn my alphabet and how to add-subtract.
Early last year I was diagnosed PTSD from severe child abuse…broken bones, burned hands etc.
I completely blocked out periods of my life with my mother - absolutely no rememberance of any abuse. Everyone said my personality would change when my mother came to visit but I had no idea why.
My first marriage was also tumultuous and one night in particular was bad. I blocked that memory for more than 6 months than all of a sudden remembered.
Is this one way an eidetic memory may work with specifically bad memories?
Johnnie,
Thanks for sharing your story.
In our opinion, what you describe is likely not related to an eidetic memory. Instead, it sounds more like a natural defence mechanism to protect ourselves from pain, be that physical, mental or emotional.
I have one. I thought everyone did. I remember everyone’s phone #s by after I see it written down even. I remember how they wrote it amd the color of the paper and all for a very long time. But then I still picture their # if I need to call them. Yeah… Photographic memory, is real. I remember everything in snapshots. Like my eyes are constantly snapping pics and when someone says “remember when…” I start to picture exactly where it was, where everyone is standing, what they were wearing… Everything. Then all those “snapshots”turn into a video in my head. That’s cool that I’m a rarity tho. I didn’t develop it until later though. I think it developed from survival. I was 16, with a 44 year old man for 12 years. I had to remember the sun and the moon and everything in between or.. Well.. Not going too far on here.. But he was severely abusive. I had to remember… I couldn’t fuck up either.. I believe, after reading your article… That situation definitely trained my brain to have a photographic memory. I worked on cars and installed flooring with him and he never let me leave his side for almost 12 years when i “escaped”. Forced to learn. Forced to remember. My photographic memory, is real. It’s not a myth.
I’m an emotional person, so to remember every little
detail would be devastating. I remember sad events, but just the event, not the details or date. I would think having that kind of memory just might develop a monster strength or a will to commit suicide.
you really need it keep out of your confort zone with a eidetic memory i personnaly think… as it will reinforce your stability exponentially the more you expand on a new subjects… but the most important thing i think is to be balanced in intro and extravert, to be able to focus subconsciously on all aspects… for a person to have a eidetic mem instead of a hyperthymesia or it’s counter part for extravert that i don’t know the name lol. as, of what i understand i should say.
is this thread still alive and listened to?
Just wanted to let you know i have this trait; eidetic memory. i’m 35 now so not a child anymore lol. my eidetic memory, if i can describe it, is a record of all the interaction and experience of a moment (feeling, structural, sens and ‘vibe’ of the moment everytime always lol. event intoxicated lol. i will not be able to recall what i didnt read (example, looking at a wall of book with some open, i cannot tell what was wrote but if i read them them i can say and sumarize precisely what ive read. i clearly recall all forms, structures pretty nicely, like i can draw you a clear picture of it. i recall easily any contrast/opposition….)
the time doesnt pass like normal person in my head i found out some years ago lol… and my mind is always craving for new info to complete the models in my head
I’m a artist foremost. i sculpt, draw, write, invent, act, create… but then i found out recently that i was maybe more of a intelectual that i tought lol…
if anyone is interested to hear more lol
btw i never trained for that lol, nor i ever really studied and did homework past 4th grade hahaha so i dont know what you might think about that, does that look eidetic enough? or i’m off track?
ps i’m 50% / 50% introvert extravert ….. if it can help anyhow lol
have a nice day!
to put it more clearly, it is if as i can flow back to the time i want to remember and just relive it anytime i want.
and since i have a really gread visual / spatial vision, i can go out of my perspective and describe it more easily if i can say even more if i already know a place, but can do it really easy even if i see a place only one time and years after i draw it