Photographic Memory - Is It a Myth?

Experts have been debating for years whether photographic memory exists. Because of the name, one of the biggest problems is that photographic memory is often confused with an eidetic memory. Another is the fact that having a photographic memory doesn’t necessarily mean remembering things in the form of pictures, nor are people with this ability always able to recall the smallest of details after a length of time has passed.

A test originally created to check for photographic memory is now often used to test for eidetic memory. A person is given an image and scans it for 30 seconds. The person then tries to recall and describe the image once the image has been removed. It is rare for someone to describe the image with great detail, especially once a few minutes have passed. Many researchers therefore claim that photographic memory is a myth, based on these types of test.

In spite of these claims by researchers, many people display signs of having a photographic memory, proving that it does indeed exist. Rather than having an actual picture of the details though, people with an enhanced memory simply have the ability to remember details longer than the average person, and can therefore store the information in their long term memory, allowing them to recall the details at a later date.

Children more often display signs of having a photographic memory, often being able to recall things in vivid detail without any prompting. However, often as they grow up, the memory process becomes disrupted by outside influences, and most loose this ability. As we age, we are often distracted by competing priorities, and it is believed that because of this, we are unable to collect enough information to store details effectively, unlike children.

You can however train yourself to have a photographic memory, by using simple techniques to increase your memory capacity. By utilizing some basic exercises, you can learn to remember details such as dates, names and numbers, and develop what some people would call a photographic memory.

It is rare to find individuals who possess an eidetic memory, which allows them to recall, in detail, an image after one viewing, but it is far more possible to find people who possess a photographic memory, which allows them to view information stored in their brain, and is not limited to images. The theory is that people with a photographic memory are able to form an image in their mind that contains the details that they need to remember.

         

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