Does Perfect Photographic Memory Exist?
Most people have heard the term “photographic memory” before and have possibly met someone who supposedly has one. According to the Oxford English Dictionary photographic memory is defined as, “ (a) a photograph of a place or event that one may wish to remember or recall; (b) the ability to remember visual perceptions with the accuracy of a photograph; an exceptionally quick or accurate memory.”. This involves seeing something and being able to recall that information with such precision it's as if whatever the person sees is in front of them. But the real question is, does such an incredible ability actually exist and if so, can someone have perfect photographic memory?
Photographic memory is very commonly compared with its similar- but very different type of memory called eidetic memory. Eidetic memory, unlike photographic memory, is defined as an image seen projected onto one’s vision for a couple minutes. Those with eidetic memory see the image in their vision, while those with true photographic memory recall photos in their mind to perfect precision. With these two types of photographic memory claiming to exist, how can they be proven? For people with eidetic memory, there is a clear method of testing, “The most common way to identify eidetikers (as people with eidetic imagery are often called) is by the Picture Elicitation Method. In it, an unfamiliar picture is placed on an easel and a person carefully scans the entire scene. After 30 seconds have elapsed, the picture is removed from view, and the person is asked to continue to look at the easel and to report anything that they can observe.” individuals who truly possess claim to be able to still “see” the image in front of them after its been removed and details about the image can be confirmed. However, eidetic memory isn’t the most accurate, “even if eidetikers have phenomenal memories, they still can’t capture all the details. What’s more, like all people, eidetikers also invent details that were never really there in the image — so-called false memories.”. While eidetic memory can be confirmed to exist, the inaccuracies with recalling images along with it are confirmed to exist as well.
If there is proof of a type of photographic memory, who has it? Does anyone have true photographic memory? Well, eidetic memory is seen in the majority of children, who then lose the ability as they become adults, “between 2% and 10% of children have an eidetic memory, but this ability gradually fades that virtually no adult retains it.”. Cases of photographic memory in adults are extremely rare, but aren’t entirely possible. Stephen Wiltshire is a famous artist for his amazing city landscape sketches. The only thing, he doesn’t use any references. Stephen Wiltshire was given a 20 minute helicopter ride over Mexico City before drawing a complete replica of the city over 5 days just with his memory. With eidetic memory displaying images for up to a couple minutes at a time, it was impossible Wiltshire had this condition. The only explanation was true photographic memory, being able to recall images in amazing detail without fail.
Art of Memory, “What Is Eidetic Memory?”, 2022 https://artofmemory.com/blog/eidetic-memory/
Scientific American, “Is there such a thing as a photographic memory? And if so, can it be learned?”, 2007, https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-there-such-a-thing-as/
Tibi Puiu, “Is Photographic Memory Real? Not Quite, But Theres Something That Comes Close”, 2021
Nina Strochlic, “See This Incredible Artist Draw a Whole City From Memory”, 2018
https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/142824?redirectedFrom=Photographic+Memory#eid30405525
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