Photographic memory is the ability to recall a past scene in detail with great accuracy – just like a photograph. Although many people claim that they have it, we still don’t have proof that it actually exists.
Generally, we’re better at remembering what we’ve seen than what we’ve heard. And some people do have better visual memory than others. Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM) is a condition that has been identified in fewer than 100 people worldwide. People with HSAM can recall past events in great detail, along with the exact dates when they occurred. For example, they may be able to tell you what they ate for lunch on May 1, 1999 (and that it was a Saturday).
Their memories are exceptional, but certainly not as perfect as actual photographs. Doctors have yet to understand what exactly is happening in the brains of individuals with HSAM, and tests reveal there is no particular ability that appears to underpin the condition. Results from one study suggest that people with HSAM are no better at acquiring memories – they are not superior learners – but are simply better at retaining memories.
The idea of an eidetic memory is similar to that of a photographic memory, but the two are not exactly the same. Eidetic memory is the ability to vividly recall an image you are exposed to, but only briefly. For example, someone may be able to continue to “see” a picture they have been shown for 30 seconds, even a few minutes after the picture is removed. Yvaine Ye
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