What is eidetic memory in psychology?

The mechanisms of memory in the human mind harbor mysteries that science has not yet resolved. One of them has to do with a faculty that is demonstrated, in a more significant way, by young children. We are talking about eidetic memory or the ability to accurately remember an image just by being in contact with it for a few brief moments.

It’s more, There are eight or nine year old creatures who, after being exposed to a stimulus, continue to see it despite it not being present. Your brain somehow continues to project that seen shape for a few seconds. Far from being a paranormal phenomenon, it is a unique experience studied by psychology. We reveal more information to you below.

Eidetic memory: definition and characteristics

A person with eidetic memory is able to retain visual information in great detail for several minutes or hours. An absolute pioneer in this field was the psychologist Ralph Norman Haber. His works, throughout the 60s and 70s, such as the one published in Perceptual and Motor Skills, are a reference today in this field.

It should be noted that Those who most demonstrate this type of particularity are children. In fact, something that Dr. Haber saw in his research is that about 8% of students in primary classrooms presented it. However, as they mature, this mnemonic faculty disappears. Let’s see more associated information.

How it manifests

The term eidetic comes from Greek and means ‘relating to ideas’ or ‘relating to forms’. It is because those who have this characteristic see the image to which they have been exposed for a while. It is like an almost exact visual representation of the stimulus. This allows them to evoke nuances with great success and thoroughness. Let’s discuss more features:

Detail and precision: People with this ability can remember colors, shapes, sizes, written text and other visual elements with little effort.Long duration: Unlike common visual memory, which usually fades in a short time, eidetic memory allows those who have this faculty to evoke a series of images over a longer period.Voluntary or involuntary: some children access this ability voluntarily; In other cases, visual memories appear involuntarily, as if the image was stored in their mind and was projected before them.Relationship with childhood: So far, almost 98% of the registered cases are children. There are also known adult patients with synesthesia or neurological problems, but it is more common in childhood. What’s more, it is believed that, as they develop their linguistic and reading-writing skills, this faculty fades.

It is estimated that between 8 and 15% of children under the age of 12 exhibit the trait of eidetic memory. Although as they mature it disappears.

Differences with photographic memory

Photographic memory defines the ability to permanently remember data in an exact and rigorous manner. It is, so to speak, like taking a snapshot of a specific stimulus or situation to store it in memory in a perfect way. Thus, although it is often confused with eidetics, it should be noted that they are not the same. Take note of the differences:

Scientific acceptance: Photographic memory is not an accepted or recognized scientific term. However, the eidetic cognitive faculty has greater studies and acceptance.Memory time: eidetic capacity is a transient form of short-term memory. It can last a few minutes or at most an hour. Photographic memory, for its part, is usually described as a phenomenon where the memory is permanent.Memory projection: Ulric Neisser was another scientist who studied eidetic memory. in his book Memory Observed: Remembering in Natural Contexts (2020) talks about this phenomenon and how some children could project the images of their memory onto a sheet and trace their outline with a pencil. This feature does not appear in photographic memory.

A curious case

We mentioned that this type of memory appears, to a greater degree, in children. However, we have a registered case in which the protagonist is a 27-year-old adult. Magazine life presented the clinical history of a patient with refractory epilepsy that evidenced an eidetic memory.

What the scientists were able to discover is that this phenomenon would be associated with a hyperactive cerebral cortex due to the seizures themselves. Be that as it may, every time the case is discovered in an elderly person, some neurological peculiarity is linked; either synesthesia or epilepsy.

Can I develop an eidetic memory?

Something important to consider: Human memory is never exact and always tends to reconstruct some data. There are no 100% perfect memories. This is why science questions photographic memory and, regarding eidetics, we know that it is a very specific phenomenon linked to childhood.

In the book Memory from a Broader Perspective (1994), of the doctors Alan Searleman and Douglas Herrmann, cases of people with exceptional memory gifts are described. However, none showed photographic characteristics. They did, however, show excellent autobiographical memory or the ability to remember faces. If you want to enhance your eidetic memory, we give you keys:

Rest and mental health: Deep, restful rest, as well as techniques to reduce stress, could improve your ability to concentrate and visual retention. Go for it.Display: This is a very enriching exercise that will not only stimulate your mind. The fact of reproducing inside yourself the most specific details of what you have observed will enhance your memory.Memory training: Consider using brain training apps or games designed to improve memory and visual attention. Some applications offer you exercises that can help you develop your observation and visual retention skills. It’s worth trying.Concentration techniques: Improve your concentration and attention daily. Children with eidetic abilities have an exceptional ability to focus on visual details. Try to do the same and, in addition, practice meditation and mindfulness It will help you increase your attention and awareness.Practice conscious observation: Often, people do not pay enough attention to the visual details around them. We are, after all, a society hyperactivated by technology that is losing its concentration skills. Don’t hesitate, take time to carefully observe any stimulus and all its nuances.

Memory, an extraordinary competence

Memory is the cognitive faculty that stores not only your past, but also the person you are and what you learn every day. It is the window to all your experiences and that trunk from which to relive precious moments and learn from your experiences. Now, this competition also hides fabulous peculiarities.

There are those who have a unique ability to remember data. Some children demonstrate eidetic gifts and certain adults have exceptional autobiographical memory. Nonetheless, Keep in mind that 100% perfect memory does not exist. After all, we are minds that interpret what we see, not machines that record every piece of information. That also makes us special.

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