Is perfect recall a myth?
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The ability to recall memories can differ from one person to another.
Two people who witnessed the same event can have totally different memories of it.
Gary Yeowell/DigitalVision/Getty Images
Do these people actually exist?
Eidetic memory, often (inaccurately) referred to as a photograph memory,Dr.
Someone with a photographic memory is said to be able to recall images after a long time.
Its permanently stored in their minds without any changes to details similar to a camera taking a photo.
Some people claim to have a photographic memory but there is no conclusive evidence that shows it actually exists.
Eidetic memory is similar to photographic memory but the recall lasts much shorter.
The Science Behind Eidetic Memory
Its not really understood how eidetic memory works.
For instance, a person may see colors when they hear certain sounds.
An exploratory study looked at the association between eidetic memory and synesthesia.
The results showed a significant correlation between synesthesia and eidetic memory, however, more research is needed.
Eidetic Memory vs.
Regular Memory
Imagine you are shown a photo of a downtown scene.
Once the photo is taken away, you are asked to talk about what was in the image.
This is yourshort-term memoryworking.
These are memories you are currently thinking about and paying attention to.
you’re free to typically remember short-term memories for about 20 to 30 seconds.
However, someone with eidetic memory has a much greater capacity.
Detective shows love to make use of protagonists with this kind of perfect recall.
Is Eidetic Memory Real?
Eidetic memory is mostly seen among children and very rarely among adults.Dr.
Students were classified as eidetic using self-report criteria including objective and subjective measures.
Additional tests were performed to look at the effect of stimulus manipulations onvisual retention.
It concluded that the storage capacity is not a factor in the difference between eidetic imagery and visual memory.
Exercise Your Brain
If you dont use it, you lose it.
Dr. Shetreat encourages everyone to continually learn new things.
Exercise and spending regular time immersed in nature are also memory enhancers.
The ability to recall experiences, images and events allows us to make sense of our present and future.
A strong memory can help us become lifelong learners.
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