Eidetic Memory: The Real Science (Not a Myth)

Eidetic memory is an authentic psychological ability, although it is much rarer and definitely less mysterious than popular culture claims. It is not identical to photographic memory, and the existing scientific research shows that real eidetic imagery exists mostly in young children and tends to disappear with age.

What is eidetic memory, and how does it actually work? This question has been researched by scientists for many years. However, the issue is that there is much misinformation on the Internet, which combines scientific facts with myths regarding exceptional memory and imagination.

So let’s clarify the issue. You will find out what eidetic memory is according to psychologist Ralph Norman Haber in his 1979 review of the scientific literature, what is wrong about famous cases of exceptional memory such as Kim Peek, and the reality of outstanding visual memory according to contemporary cognitive science. Also, you will find an eidetic memory test that uses Haber’s criteria

What Is Eidetic Memory, Really?

Eidetic memory, in its true sense, implies that one is able to continue perceiving an image that has been erased, as if it is still present. It is called eidetic imagery, rather than a permanent photographic memory of the mind.

This definition captures the way eidetic imagery is commonly described in psychology, differentiating it from simple visual memory and common beliefs.

Eidetic imagery was thoroughly researched and systematized by psychologist Ralph Norman Haber in his famous 1979 study, Twenty Years of Haunting Eidetic Imagery: Where’s the Ghost?

Based on this paper, a true eidetic image can have three key features: it preserves colors and details of the original image, stays immobile (it does not move with the eyes), and lasts for about three to four minutes.

These differences make eidetic imagery distinct from vivid imagination or visual memory. Some individuals can have a great visual memory and memorize a picture perfectly, but they will not be able to keep looking at it like it is really there anymore.

It has been estimated that this ability appears in only 2–10% of children and almost disappears during adolescence. One theory suggests that the development of language and abstract thinking makes the brain use conceptual rather than visual representations.

Eidetic Memory vs. Photographic Memory vs. Hyperphantasia

Hyperphantasia

Despite their frequent interchangeability, eidetic memory, photographic encoding, and hyperphantasia mean quite different things. Knowledge of the difference explains why there are so many unbelievable stories of “perfect memory.”

Consider three individuals viewing the same painting for thirty seconds.

The individual with eidetic imagery will keep seeing the painting even though it has already been taken down from the wall. After several minutes, the image will fade away; however, while it remains in one’s mind’s eye, one can keep observing the details of the painting using visual recall.

The individual who has photographic memory should be able to recall the painting down to the finest detail, such as brush strokes, color, and words written on a nearby information board, days and even years after viewing the painting. While there have been numerous claims about this type of memory ability, no scientific evidence exists that proves its validity.

The individual with hyperphantasia will view the painting differently from the other two. Such people may even close their eyes and imagine the painting in their mind’s eye. Instead of seeing it as if it were still in front of them, they see it only in their imagination. 

This is important because a rich imagination isn’t the same thing as a great memory, and neither should be confused with eidetic imagery. 

Finally, it is important to remember that our minds have not been fully studied, and therefore there are even such phenomena as a complete lack of imagination. Thus, at the other extreme end of the spectrum there is aphantasia, and having aphantasia means one is unable to visualise anything at all. 

The Science – What Haber’s Research Actually Found

‍Haber’s study demonstrates what distinguishes true eidetic imagery from normal visual memory and imagination.

In his comprehensive 1979 review, Twenty Years of Haunting Eidetic Imagery: Where’s the Ghost?, Haber analyzed two decades of research on eidetic imagery. It was noted that some children seemed to continue seeing images even when those images had been removed from their visual field.

Haber observed that the definitions of the phenomena varied greatly in previous studies. That’s why he outlined three main properties of the phenomenon that remained relatively consistent, as mentioned earlier in the article: the image maintained its original color scheme, did not move together with the eye movements, and disappeared within about three to four minutes.

‍But is an eidetic image really like a photograph? One of the most compelling pieces of evidence says no. Researcher Ulric Neisser described an experiment with a 12-year-old girl who had seemingly powerful eidetic abilities. She was asked to mentally slide her eidetic image of an elephant onto a blank sheet of paper and trace its outline with a pencil. She had already proven she could trace a real photo of an elephant realistically – so if her eidetic image were truly photographic, the result should have looked the same. Instead, she drew something resembling a cartoon elephant, the kind of simplified drawing children typically produce from imagination. This suggested that even a vivid eidetic image is not a stored photograph, but – like any other memory – a reconstruction built by the brain from reality, prior memories, and expectations.

Free Eidetic Memory Test – 5 Questions

‍If you were ever curious, “Is eidetic memory real?”, or if you may have had it yourself before, here is a handy list that could be helpful. Of course, this test does not give any kind of diagnosis or confirmation of the existence of the phenomenon. The following questions are based on the criteria set by Ralph Norman Haber, who conducted his research and concluded the list from numerous studies, unlike the so-called “perfect memory quizzes”.

People with possible eidetic memory may continue to see an image for a short time after it is no longer in front of them.

Is the image maintaining its initial colors and brightness?

It is known that eidetic images retain colors very well. If the image turns into something blurred and monochrome, most probably, it is not what we need.

Is the image staying at the same place, even if you shift your eyes?

Stability is one of Haber’s main criteria.

Does it slowly go away after about four minutes?

The scientific findings repeatedly point out that eidetic images fade away on their own instead of staying permanently accessible.

Does the image appear in front of you rather than only in your mind?

Finally, it’s the most important criterion. People with a strong imagination create a picture in their mind, whereas those with eidetic images see the original picture.

How to analyze your responses

0–1 “Yes” answers: It’s possible that your experience is similar to ordinary visual memory.

2–3 “Yes” answers: You might have highly vivid visual imagination, yet it doesn’t prove you have eidetic memory.

4–5 “Yes” answers: Your experience has some features described in the scientific sources, yet it needs additional laboratory research.

To conclude, is eidetic memory real? Yes – but whether a person has it or not can be established by much more than an online questionnaire.

Famous “Eidetic” Cases – What They Actually Prove

Examples of individuals possessing superior memories and abilities are usually found in research on eidetic memory. The problem is that many such cases are presented without sufficient scientific backing, thus mixing facts and myths.

The most famous name associated with the condition is Kim Peek, who became widely known due to the movie Rain Man because of his phenomenal ability to memorize large volumes of factual data. Despite this, no controlled experiment has ever proven the existence of Peek’s photographic or eidetic memory; researchers simply called him a memory savant whose skills are connected to unusual neurological development rather than eidetic images.

Elizabeth, the woman who took part in the dot pattern experiments of Charles Stromeyer in the 1970s, is another frequently mentioned case. She allegedly managed to combine two separate images seen by her into one three-dimensional image and was considered among the few examples of adult eidetic memory-like skills. Nonetheless, the results of this research have never been reproduced, and Elizabeth has never been tested again, so science does not consider it reliable.

Elizabeth’s case is often treated as the strongest possible evidence – but it stands almost alone. When researchers Kent Gummerman and Cynthia Gray devised a more objective “composite image test” (asking people to mentally merge a memorized pattern of random dots or squares with a new one to reveal a hidden shape), they tested 270 subjects, mostly children. Only two met Haber’s basic criteria for eidetic imagery – and neither of them could pass the composite test. Researcher John O. Merritt later ran a similar dot-pattern test through newspaper columns that reportedly reached millions of readers; only about 30 people ever contacted him claiming success, and none of them passed the test when examined in person. This is the actual scale of “proven” adult eidetic ability: essentially zero confirmed cases under controlled conditions.

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Here’s the positive side: You do not have to be one of those unique individuals with an exceptional neurological profile to improve your memory capacity. Studies have proven that there are ways of enhancing encoding, such as using a memory palace utilized by memory champions, even though they do not produce true eidetic images.

‍Can Adults Have It?

The simple answer is rarely unless some evidence to the contrary appears in the future. Though true cases of eidetic imagery are known in children, adult cases of it are extremely rare, and nothing has changed the scientific opinion formed throughout the last decades.

The most popular example of such imagery includes Elizabeth, who took part in a series of experiments run by the scientist Charles Stromeyer during the early 1970s. Had the experiments shown true results, it would have been considered one of the best examples of eidetic memory in adults ever found. Nevertheless, the experiments have raised controversies in scientific circles during the last fifty years.

The researchers also argue that there can be a developmental reason behind the observation of eidetic imagery in children. A well-established theory says that children initially depend more on detailed mental images than language and abstract thinking. As language ability grows, the brain moves away from retaining mental images and starts storing information in terms of concepts and meanings. Although scientists are still investigating the underlying processes, this theory makes it clear why scientists estimate the rate of occurrence of eidetic imagery in children to be 2-10%.

Can’t Do It Naturally? Here’s What Actually Works

What happens if you can’t teach yourself to have natural eidetic memory? Does it mean your memory will be average forever? Don’t worry, because it is not the case. Although science hasn’t discovered any proof of the existence of natural methods to acquire eidetic memory, numerous years of cognitive science studies show that memory strategies can significantly improve people’s recollection abilities.

One of the most popular techniques is the memory palace method or the Method of Loci. Instead of memorizing something with repetitive exercises, you create a place for each piece of information on the road you know or in the room you are accustomed to. As a result, your brain remembers locations easily and abstract information becomes easier to remember.

Now imagine you have a simple shopping list of items such as: milk, bananas, keys, bread, and coffee. Rather than rehearsing these items in your head time and time again, you can use visual imagery in the form of milk spilling all over your front doorstep, a gigantic banana laid out in your hallway, the keys frozen into the kitchen sink, bread on your couch, and a cup of coffee on your bed. The images seem odd, but that’s precisely how it helps.

It has been scientifically proven that spatial encoding techniques work far better than simple verbal repetition when it comes to committing lists of things to memory. It is precisely why professional memory competitors can memorize huge amounts of information despite not having any innate eidetic imagery.

You can try to build your own mind palace by interacting with specially created environments tailored for long-term learning. Combining this method with spaced repetition makes the information even harder to forget.

This is the underlying philosophy of memoryOS. Instead of making promises of supernatural powers that have not been proven by any scientific evidence, it provides memory training based on proven methods that were created in collaboration with Jonas von Essen, two-time World Memory Champion.

‍Personally, I would recommend the less drastic but still tremendously powerful memory techniques that have been developed for thousands of years to make normally functioning brains remember much better. They’re not photographic, but they can make significant parts of your life a lot easier without at the same time making other parts harder. A rare win-win in the realms of the mind.” – Jonas von Essen, Co-founder & Head Lecturer at memoryOS, two-time World Memory Champion

If remembering names, learning languages, memorizing study information, and acquiring professional information is what you want to achieve, then learning how to use a memory palace technique is a much more realistic and scientifically backed approach than trying to acquire eidetic imagery.

‍Train the Memory You Actually Have

You do not need any exceptional cognitive capacity to create an outstanding memory since science has discovered methods that can help improve the power of your memorization and encoding.

Two-time World Memory Champion Jonas von Essen uses methods like a memory palace. This is a technique that anybody can use, and world memory champions like von Essen are also famous for feats like memorizing long strings of digits — you can try a taste of that yourself with our number recall game. This is the basis of memoryOS.

Want to improve your memory with scientifically proven techniques? Try memoryOS free!

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