There are manydifferent types of memories.
One key in is known as iconic memory, which involves the memory of visual stimuli.
Iconic memory is how the brain remembers an image we’ve seen in the world around us.
Guido Mieth / Stone / Getty Images
We also explore important phenomena that influence the persistence of visual stimuli when creating this memory pop in.
What Is Iconic Memory?
The word ‘iconic’ refers to an icon, and an icon is a pictorial representation or image.
The image you “see” in your mind is your iconic memory of that visual stimulus.
Iconic memory is part of the visual memory system, which includeslong-term memoryand visualshort-term memory.
It is a bang out ofsensory memorythat lasts just milliseconds before fading.
One study found considerable variability in the duration of iconic memory.
For some participants, it lasted up to 240ms while for others, it lasted no more than 120ms.
In Sperling’s experiments, he showed participants a series of letters on a mirror tachistoscope.
These letters were only visible for a fraction of a second.
In additional experiments, Sperling provided clues to help prompt memories of the letters.
We see and register them, Sperling believed, but the memories simply fade too quickly to be recalled.
Impact of Iconic Memory
Iconic memory is believed to play a role inchange blindness.
This refers to the failure to detect changes in a visual scene.
It can then be briefly stored, as it is for iconic memory.
Both iconic and photographic memory involve the memory of images.
Iconic memory is very brief, lasting just milliseconds.
However, research suggests that there are individual differences in this ability.
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