Tuesday, January 19, 2016

So You Wish You Had Photographic Memory?

By Melissa Russell


It would be completely normal for one to admit that the fleeting thought of having extraordinary memory would be the best gift in the world. Some people actually are blessed with that, and it's called photographic memory. It's pretty much what it sounds like - seeing something for a short time and being able to recall every detail as if describing a photograph in front of them.

Whereas the average person needs time to take in details and then later on piece them together, someone with this ability simple needs to remember. All the details will come flooding back. Of course, it's never 100% accurate, but the fact they don't need to use memorization techniques such as mnemonics is impressive on its own.

Only one person - her name is Elizabeth - has been proven to legitimately have this ability. She passed all the tests with bright and flying colors whereas the others slipped up more than a few times. This is entirely normal, though, as even with eidetic memory (another name for it) mistakes are inevitable.

It is, however, not rare for someone to be able to recall details almost perfectly. It is more common in children, however, as they tend to see things just as they are as opposed to thinking more abstractly about their observations. There are some who have eidetic memory up until they're much older.

There has always been dialogue as to whether having eidetic memory is really as amazing as it sounds. Many of those with personal experience will have the same answer: yes but also no. It's hard to think of reason why it wouldn't be good, but tuning in to their discussions proves fair points.

For example, study time is significantly reduced because all it takes is a few read-throughs of notes and it's stuck there for the duration of the test. Unfortunately, that probably means the number of freeloading classmates increases as well. Suddenly, everyone wants to be your friend because they want to cheat off of you.

One person could argue that there couldn't possibly be anything wrong with being able to recall - minute by minute - the best times of one's life. And without a doubt, that's true. But what about being able to recall - minute by torturous minute - the worst times as well? Having eidetic memory doesn't allow you to choose what you retain. It's all there, no matter what you prefer. The choice is there on which to well on, of course.

Lastly, making a mistake as someone with eidetic memory somehow seems worse then usual. Everyone - themselves included - is so used to them being good at pretty much everything that the pressure mounts up spectacularly. There's no such thing as just a minor slip up.

There will always be and upside and a downside to the seemingly good things, such as eidetic memory. Those who have it don't have a choice and have to learn to deal with it - both the good and the bad. What matters is what they do with the cards they've been dealt with.




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