Eidetic memory: what is it and how to develop it?

People with a good memory live a lot easier. It is easy for them to complete various tasks and study at school. For example, it is enough to read a poem a couple of times and it stays in your memory. In the lesson, just open the page you want and just retell the text. Eidetic memory is needed for those people who, by the nature of their service, should remember a large amount of information.

People with a memory associated with remembering images are considered talented. However, some experts believe that such a talent is more a deviation than an advantage. To understand this issue, we learn what the word eidetic means. This term appeared in our language from the Greek word meaning “appearance” or “image”. That’s why a memory that is capable of reproducing objects in the visual plane is called eidetic.

To be precise, then This memory allows a person to remember and hold certain images in consciousness. It can be pictures, numbers or words. When such images come to mind, he sees them as if he had been returned to the past and a colorful page opened before him. An eidetic can easily describe everything he sees to the smallest detail or rewrite the text without missing a single word.

And that is not all. Sensory modalities trigger during memories. They connect tactile, olfactory, motor or taste memories to the picture. The individual stores these things in his mind for a long time (it may take several years) and recreates if necessary. And the experiences will still be quite vivid and detailed.

The described memory is characterized by detailing of visual images. To understand this, an example is needed. Many watched the movie Avatar. However, few people remember what the main character was wearing when he got off the intergalactic ship. It is difficult to recall also the various little things that were present in the frame. A a person endowed with photographic memory will easily remember all the details. It will even describe the colors and sounds made.

Having read some information, have you already wanted to become an eidetic? Then start training your memory, as it will take a lot of time. You may have to spend a lifetime on this.

Although there are also people who received this gift at birth. They can easily be attributed to the category of natural geniuses. This is the difference between a hardworking person and someone who has been endowed with abilities from the very beginning.

In psychology, it is customary to rely on characteristics. Therefore, we will consider them in more detail, but at the same time we will find out what photographic memory is based on and how it works.

• First, the visualization is turned on. As if by chance, images appear, and already secondary components stretch behind them. How it works? A person with a photographic memory perceives a picture, and then all other details that follow him are imprinted in his imagination. For example, if a person saw an accident, then first he remembered the picture as a whole, and then the numbers of cars, colors, sounds, etc. were imprinted in his memory.
• Then comes the detailing of the images. A man recalls such details that an ordinary man in the street will surely lose sight of. For example, he can remember and describe the clothes of the victims and even the color and shape of the buttons that were sewn onto the victim’s jacket. It seems that the eidetic looks at the picture and gradually describes it.
• The unique person is not trying to remember events that have attracted much attention. They in his mind are postponed as if by chance, regardless of his desire. This is called involuntary retention. An exception here are people who specifically develop photographic memory.
• The eidetic can recall the necessary events with ease, as it has involuntary playback.
• Those born with photographic memory can remember very large amounts of information. They quote verses, know different details of past events, and even speak different languages.
• A person with ordinary memory often cannot remember the details. And the eidetic will remember everything to the smallest detail, even if 20 or 30 years pass.

It is believed that eidetic memory is inherent in younger students. As you grow older, this memory is replaced by causal thinking. but if desired, any person can restore memory, since his brain is involved only 3-5%. Therefore, it is necessary to develop your memory throughout life and achieve results. So you will make it impeccable, since a person with a photographic memory has superiority over other people intellectually.

And keep in mind that the ability to learn in most cases depends on a good memory. If a person is able to remember a large amount of information, he becomes popular in the labor market. It is easier for young people to learn and try themselves in various professions in the presence of such mental ability.

Nevertheless, eidetic memory still has some disadvantages. People with unusual abilities often cannot develop abilities in other areas. First of all, physical development suffers. In addition, the brain of a normal person specifically erases unpleasant memories. In life, it is such memories that usually cause heartache.

If an individual has eidetic memory, then the function of “erasing” images of unpleasant events is abolished. And then it becomes difficult for a gifted individual to constantly keep his psycho-emotional state normal. therefore psychiatrists are more than restrained in cases of congenital eidetic memory. When it comes to apparent bias, this option is considered a clear deviation. Why is this happening?

Because the amount of memory required to store pictures occupies separate parts of the brain. This process changes the biochemical and physiological structures of cells. Thus, in one part of the brain, productivity is inhibited, and in another it is developing rapidly. And this is considered a deviation from the norm. Specialist M.P. Kononova, when studying this issue, determined that children with congenital eidetic memory suffered from certain abnormalities. They were dominated by hallucinations and even epileptic seizures.

It must be understood that absolutely identical people with the same characters and abilities simply do not exist. Therefore, among eidetics there are those whose abilities are developed quite strongly, and there are those whose abilities are less clearly expressed. Due to this fact, experts divided the severity of photographic memory into degrees. There are only 5 of them.

• For some capable individuals, in order to reproduce something, you need to fix the image in memory.
• Others may see very faint visual images.
• A more in-depth eidetism provides for the visualization of images that have the character of medium clarity. At the same time, in this process there is a manifestation of the images of some particular details.
• The penultimate degree may allow the memorization of clear and fundamental points in the pictures. In this version, some details of sensory modalities are already observed.
• And the most persistent memory can reproduce rather colorful and clear details of eidetic images. At the same time, modalities manifest themselves clearly and clearly.

As it became clear, the last fifth degree is the most pronounced, therefore, it is divided into 2 types.

• If a person can control and reproduce necessary memories at will, memory refers to B-type.
• Persistent pictures. They have a bright and intrusive character. Eidetic images in this case border on hallucinations. Man cannot always control these manifestations. it T type.

Those who are interested in developing a good memory can take up its development. And here you will need to use all your abilities, they are different for each person. Therefore, start training by the following methods.

Nothing can be said for sure, but they say that the artist was endowed with a photographic memory. This fact is not surprising. The profession of an artist involves remembering various beautiful pictures. They must be clearly imprinted in the head, so that later they can be transferred to the canvas.Perhaps that is why experts have long recommended a methodology for the development of eidetic memory of the same name.

The essence of this technique is as follows.

• It is necessary to determine a thing or some animated object (you can take, for example, an animal).
• Then it’s good to take a closer look at it, observe the behavior or remember its shape.
• Then you need to close your eyes, disconnect from the outside world and try to reproduce in your mind the full picture that you just watched. It should contain all the details (color, movement, general appearance, etc.).
• While the object has not disappeared from view, open your eyes and compare your picture with the original. If you missed something, then correct the errors and try to repeat the exercise.
• Perform this exercise all the time until you see a complete coincidence of all, even the smallest details.
• When you reach a certain level, try to complicate the task.

There are other exercises for developing eidetic memory. Let's consider them in order.

• This exercise can be completed without spending a lot of time.. For example, you go to the store. While walking, try to count the houses, entrances and even windows that occur. Remember the number that you have. When you return, recount all objects again. If their number coincides, it means that you got a good result, and your memory will soon become ideal.
• How to work with text and quickly develop photographic memory? Exercise according to the following procedure and you will be able to memorize any texts very quickly. In order to start classes, you need to print an A4 sheet with text. The text should be completely unknown. Read and remember what is written carefully. Then you need to ask your partner to add a few logical words to this text and print the sheet again. After adjustment, the new textual execution must be re-read and the newly added words found.
• If you like entertaining games and activities, then read all the signs on the contrary, when walking along the street. You can buy a training manual for the development of logic in children and solve various tasks. The pictures called “find 12 differences”, etc. will also help in this matter.

This activity can be called gymnastics for the brain. Exercises that can be classified in this category not only help develop photographic memory, but also are a preventive measure against Alzheimer's disease. They need to be performed regularly for both adults and children. Consider the simplest and most productive exercises.

• When you go to work or to the store, try to get to the place, moving along different routes. There should be several. Each time you go along a new road, carefully examine the objects surrounding you in all details.
• Do you write only with your left hand? Start writing with your right hand. And also try to brush your teeth or hold a spoon during dinner with an unusual hand.
• Look for texts whose subjects are unusual for you, and you do not quite understand it. At the same time, try your best to understand the essence of the selected text.
• Every day you chat with friends or colleagues. In conversation, try to keep speech in check. This should be done as if you were writing an article or an essay.
• If you are interested in the development of photographic memory, often turn off the sound of the TV and try to understand what is at stake. To test yourself, just watch the same show or movie on the Internet.

No wonder the story captures some outstanding people who influenced its course. All of them possessed a phenomenal memory and were born and lived at different times. So, let's start listing the geniuses.

• 26th US President T. Roosevelt remembered as a peacemaker. In addition, he read 3 books every day and honed his memory.
• Inventor, extraordinary and mysterious man N. Tesla possessed a photographic memory. His contribution to science is hard to overestimate.
• Russian composer S. Rachmaninov could memorize notes at a very high speed. He played the most difficult works from memory.
• John Paul II He learned 21 languages ​​in his entire life and could speak 100 dialects.
• Phenomenal American Kim Peak could remember almost 100% of the information read and read 2 pages at once simultaneously.
• The president The philippines Ferdinand Marcos effortlessly memorized complex texts and retold them with ease.
• Phenomenal Roman commander Julius Caesar knew every soldier by sight.
• American Meryl Henner remembers all the events from childhood to the smallest detail. She has an incredible amount of memory.
• Mary Elizabeth Bowser worked in intelligence and memorized all the information that she recognized behind enemy lines.
• Napoleon Bonaparte - Emperor of France. He could develop various battle plans, had a phenomenal memory.