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Photographic Memory?

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Try this and see how you get on.

I have an eidetic memory and so may you.

http://www.open.edu/openlearn/body-mind/psychology/take-the-photographic-memory-test
Original post by student2607
Okay, glad it made sense :smile: & Yeah it's true, I literally thought it was normal though, but it does seem unfair, I suppose it's application also for most subjects though so you have to have a level of understanding along with it. & Yeah exactly :smile:


Yeah - I mean i have a really odd learning style - my best learning style is through social contact and thus being tested, taught out loud by a teacher or talking about it with a teacher/fellow student and I literally thought that's how everyone learnt for quite a while. Until two years ago, I assumed everyone, like me, learnt the concepts and understood the way things worked and just applied it to specific questions; but most people in my school just learn answers by heart and are never able to apply concepts they have learnt.

If I write things out, read worksheets or have to try things out; I won't learn as well, although they can work. Sadly, few people are willing to test me :frown:
Original post by Martins1
Yeah - I mean i have a really odd learning style - my best learning style is through social contact and thus being tested, taught out loud by a teacher or talking about it with a teacher/fellow student and I literally thought that's how everyone learnt for quite a while. Until two years ago, I assumed everyone, like me, learnt the concepts and understood the way things worked and just applied it to specific questions; but most people in my school just learn answers by heart and are never able to apply concepts they have learnt.

If I write things out, read worksheets or have to try things out; I won't learn as well, although they can work. Sadly, few people are willing to test me :frown:


Yeah that's so interesting how everyone works differently, there's so much we don't yet understand as humans, it's fascinating:smile: Yeah that's silly to not be able to understand/apply what you know, that's why I think it's always good to make the notes first instead of reading a book then you actually understand everything and can find out words you're unsure of etc. That's good though as at least you understand what your learning, as tests come up with such unusual questions sometimes and you can be like BOOM :wink: :smile:
Original post by Martins1
Yeah - I mean i have a really odd learning style - my best learning style is through social contact and thus being tested, taught out loud by a teacher or talking about it with a teacher/fellow student and I literally thought that's how everyone learnt for quite a while. Until two years ago, I assumed everyone, like me, learnt the concepts and understood the way things worked and just applied it to specific questions; but most people in my school just learn answers by heart and are never able to apply concepts they have learnt.

If I write things out, read worksheets or have to try things out; I won't learn as well, although they can work. Sadly, few people are willing to test me :frown:



Yeah that's so interesting how everyone works differently, there's so much we don't yet understand as humans, it's fascinating:smile: Yeah that's silly to not bother with understanding/applying what you know, that's why I think it's always good to make the notes first instead of reading a book then you actually understand everything and can find out definitions for words you're unsure of etc. Yeah you do need people then, but it's still goodThat's good though as at least you understand what your learning, as tests come up with such unusual questions sometimes and you can be like BOOM :wink: :smile:
Another thing to bear in mind is that if you have a photographic memory you may be autistic. It's definitely a trait that autistic people have more than others.

It all comes down in my opinion to repetition. If the way you approach everything is through repetition then it's very natural for you to have a photographic memory if you think about it or at least the way that you tend to cement that line of thinking into your brain.

I can remember when I was growing up in my early teens how I could watch a football game and do like an action replay in my head. It was always there but it was only when I did my A levels did my memory become really accurate

When I'd remember things I wouldn't have any doubt in my mind whatsoever what the answer was. It was that accuracy that defined it. People would tell me their grades in different modules and I'd repeat the grades back to them precisely, a year after.

Sadly my memory is not quite what it used to be but that's another story. Ask yourself this question. Can you remember precisely what someone said to you on facebook 6 years ago? I think someone who has a photographic memory can and to do so they simply look at a picture of their message box from six years ago. The picture will be accurate.

Keep on studying. It does you a lot of good in my opinion. Never stop. One word of advice though. Get good regular sleep and don't booze too much.
(edited 7 years ago)
Original post by Spatiallyaware
Another thing to bear in mind is that if you have a photographic memory you may be autistic. It's definitely a trait that autistic people have more than others.

It all comes down in my opinion to repetition. If the way you approach everything is through repetition then it's very natural for you to have a photographic memory if you think about it or at least the way that you tend to cement that line of thinking into your brain.

I can remember when I was growing up in my early teens how I could watch a football game and do like an action replay in my head. It was always there but it was only when I did my A levels did my memory become really accurate

When I'd remember things I wouldn't have any doubt in my mind whatsoever what the answer was. It was that accuracy that defined it. People would tell me their grades in different modules and I'd repeat the grades back to them precisely, a year after.

Sadly my memory is not quite what it used to be but that's another story. Ask yourself this question. Can you remember precisely what someone said to you on facebook 6 years ago? I think someone who has a photographic memory can and to do so they simply look at a picture of their message box from six years ago. The picture will be accurate.

Keep on studying. It does you a lot of good in my opinion. Never stop. One word of advice though. Get good regular sleep and don't booze too much.


Hey, that's very interesting to hear your story, thanks so much for taking the time to share it.

I did just have a look into it, but I don't think it sounds like me in many ways as I love socialising, talking to people and have quite a lot of confidence. (I'm your typical Leo). But in some ways more than others as I am confident but can be sensitive and definitely overthink/repeat things for example criticism from teachers, especially English with creative writing as it's so personal, I did it differently/ I was "eccentric" as she'd say. It's strange though as I am mainstream in many ways (my clothes/friends etc) but other ways I'm not. Like with my imagination and ideas, but I normally suppress them. But despite being around people all the time, I don't feel like I can be totally myself around them, apart from my closest friend who I can fully be myself around. Can you relate?

That's amazing that you could do that, I don't think I could do that from so long ago, but my memory definitely seems to have become much much stronger after starting GCSE's. It shows they definitely need training. But then again my mum said I was doing 27 piece puzzles when I was twelve months and knew the name of 30 birds from a picture/naming game, so it all makes much more sense now.

Thank you, I will keep studying as it seems quite fulfilling/satisfying and like a game in a way, trying to get the best score you can, well that's how I think of it at least. Plus all my friends are doing the same at the moment so I don't feel like I'm missing anything..

Thank you, this really made me think.
(edited 7 years ago)
Just out of interest, I realised I kind of glossed over the eidetic side of it when I mentioned being 'told' my friend's exam results.

I just feel it's important to emphasise this because it's not just about pictures, it's about your sense and what's going on around you.

Take languages for example. If someone says something to you, can you replay it back in your head? It's like an echo. You can replay it back. This can be quite useful if you're trying to learn a language. But it's very useful regardless. If someone were to say ten numbers in sequence to you, could you repeat those numbers back to them? And how would you do it?

Moreover, pay attention to your mind whilst you're falling asleep. Do you occasionally hear voices at that time? These are called hypnagogic hallucinations and they are similar to voices that you've been hearing during the day.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnagogia#Sounds
Original post by student2607
Hey, that's very interesting to hear your story, thanks so much for taking the time to share it.

I did just have a look into it, but I don't think it sounds like me in many ways as I love socialising, talking to people and have quite a lot of confidence. (I'm your typical Leo). But in some ways more than others as I am confident but can be sensitive and definitely overthink/repeat things for example criticism from teachers, especially English with creative writing as it's so personal, I did it differently/ I was "eccentric" as she'd say. It's strange though as I am mainstream in many ways (my clothes/friends etc) but other ways I'm not. Like with my imagination and ideas, but I normally suppress them. But despite being around people all the time, I don't feel like I can be totally myself around them, apart from my closest friend who I can fully be myself around. Can you relate?

That's amazing that you could do that, I don't think I could do that from so long ago, but my memory definitely seems to have become much much stronger after starting GCSE's. It shows they definitely need training. But then again my mum said I was doing 27 piece puzzles when I was twelve months and knew the name of 30 birds from a picture/naming game, so it all makes much more sense now.

Thank you, I will keep studying as it seems quite fulfilling/satisfying and like a game in a way, trying to get the best score you can, well that's how I think of it at least. Plus all my friends are doing the same at the moment so I don't feel like I'm missing anything..

Thank you, this really made me think.

Well from what you say you don't sound autistic - and if you are its so mild that its clearly not something to be worried about. One thing to remember is that eiedetic and photographic memories are different. Photographic memories is being able to clearly acnd accurately see a picture in your mind. Eiedetic can be a range of things, but typically is that you cean remember everythign that you've read, heard or seen. Many of these people can pretty much instantly tell you what they did 17 days ago. I would have to think about it, figure out the date, think about what was happening around that time etc. Some people can clearly visualize exactly what they just saw - like what spatiallyaware just said, they can do an instant replay of something in their mind - i cannot.
Original post by Martins1
Well from what you say you don't sound autistic - and if you are its so mild that its clearly not something to be worried about. One thing to remember is that eiedetic and photographic memories are different. Photographic memories is being able to clearly acnd accurately see a picture in your mind. Eiedetic can be a range of things, but typically is that you cean remember everythign that you've read, heard or seen. Many of these people can pretty much instantly tell you what they did 17 days ago. I would have to think about it, figure out the date, think about what was happening around that time etc. Some people can clearly visualize exactly what they just saw - like what spatiallyaware just said, they can do an instant replay of something in their mind - i cannot.


Yeah I agree, I definitely don't think I am. Thinking about it now, not being extremely tired, I don't think it's possible as I am far from socially awkward unless I'm with someone I don't get on with, and it's probably normal to overthink criticism if the person that said it comes to mind. Thanks for the reassurance as I was getting quite worried last night xD

I'm not really sure where I lie between Eidetic/ Photographic memory this as I haven't really thought about this before the other day. I don't think I'd remember what I did that long ago though without thinking about it for a while unless it was a really significant day. I definitely notice things and remember them visually or from reading it, but also remember anything important audibly if I am told about an exam tip for example, I'll remember it. Then I can remember certain snippets of life as a video from when I was 4/5/6. But that's probably all just normal memory idk? But like I said before, I can definitely visualize images clearly and accurately in my mind of my notes/diagrams.

I'll try look into it more after exams and test different methods out, but don't want to risk any dodgy methods of trying to remember stuff right before my exam such as just looking at a book's page instead of having to do a mindmap. Although that could potentially be quite useful as they take time.

Thanks for helping me try to figure out what it is, it's been really bugging me as I want to know exactly why/how/what etc :P
Original post by student2607
Okay so when I revise I make mind maps and after doing this I can visualise them and read everything off them, even in the exams. I didn't realise this wasn't the normal way of remembering things until my friend said her way. This explains quite a lot of things, such as why I was so bad at pronouncing in my Spanish coursework (because I was reading it, so was just saying it in an English way). Who else does this? What is this? Slightly freaked out now, idek..


I have a photographic memory too. I thought this was quite normal- some people are just more visual than others. You should count yourself lucky if you have a photographic memory, especially for exams!:smile:
Original post by student2607
Yeah I agree, I definitely don't think I am. Thinking about it now, not being extremely tired, I don't think it's possible as I am far from socially awkward unless I'm with someone I don't get on with, and it's probably normal to overthink criticism if the person that said it comes to mind. Thanks for the reassurance as I was getting quite worried last night xD

I'm not really sure where I lie between Eidetic/ Photographic memory this as I haven't really thought about this before the other day. I don't think I'd remember what I did that long ago though without thinking about it for a while unless it was a really significant day. I definitely notice things and remember them visually or from reading it, but also remember anything important audibly if I am told about an exam tip for example, I'll remember it. Then I can remember certain snippets of life as a video from when I was 4/5/6. But that's probably all just normal memory idk? But like I said before, I can definitely visualize images clearly and accurately in my mind of my notes/diagrams.

I'll try look into it more after exams and test different methods out, but don't want to risk any dodgy methods of trying to remember stuff right before my exam such as just looking at a book's page instead of having to do a mindmap. Although that could potentially be quite useful as they take time.

Thanks for helping me try to figure out what it is, it's been really bugging me as I want to know exactly why/how/what etc :P


Another typical eiodetic memory sign is to be able to clearly remember the exact words of a conversation - not just a summary of one. If I had a five minute conversation and you asked me what I said, I could probably quote a few things and explain what it is about, but definitely not teh whole thing word for word - whereas some people pretty much can. And the longer the gap between the conversation and my being asked, the less accurate my response will be - and although someone with an eiodetic memory will also have a less accurate response, it can often be pretty much perfect days after. The longer the conversation, the worse my response is too. Similarly someone with an eiodetic memory will also have a less accurate response, it can often be pretty much perfect even with long conversations to remember. I believe.
Original post by sunshine774
I have a photographic memory too. I thought this was quite normal- some people are just more visual than others. You should count yourself lucky if you have a photographic memory, especially for exams!:smile:


SNAP :wink: :smile: & Yeah same here never really thought anything of it until my B2 exam when I was consciously aware of reading my mindmap and diagrams for a 6 mark question after having looked at it twice after making it& then from speaking to my friend after. Yeah I will for sure and try use it a lot more than I did! :smile:
Original post by Martins1
Another typical eiodetic memory sign is to be able to clearly remember the exact words of a conversation - not just a summary of one. If I had a five minute conversation and you asked me what I said, I could probably quote a few things and explain what it is about, but definitely not teh whole thing word for word - whereas some people pretty much can. And the longer the gap between the conversation and my being asked, the less accurate my response will be - and although someone with an eiodetic memory will also have a less accurate response, it can often be pretty much perfect days after. The longer the conversation, the worse my response is too. Similarly someone with an eiodetic memory will also have a less accurate response, it can often be pretty much perfect even with long conversations to remember. I believe.


Yeah, I think it must just be photographic then and then above average for other things, based on school work anyway. I would only be able to do what you do and summarise/ quote a few things from a conversation. :P
Original post by Martins1
Another typical eiodetic memory sign is to be able to clearly remember the exact words of a conversation - not just a summary of one. If I had a five minute conversation and you asked me what I said, I could probably quote a few things and explain what it is about, but definitely not teh whole thing word for word - whereas some people pretty much can. And the longer the gap between the conversation and my being asked, the less accurate my response will be - and although someone with an eiodetic memory will also have a less accurate response, it can often be pretty much perfect days after. The longer the conversation, the worse my response is too. Similarly someone with an eiodetic memory will also have a less accurate response, it can often be pretty much perfect even with long conversations to remember. I believe.



Yeah, I think it must just be photographic then and then above average for other things, based on school work anyway. I would only be able to do what you do and summarise/ quote a few things from a conversation. :P
Original post by student2607
Yeah, I think it must just be photographic then and then above average for other things, based on school work anyway. I would only be able to do what you do and summarise/ quote a few things from a conversation. :P


Just out of curiosity (and this may seem weird), but can I ask you something? (Well technically I already have, but another thing...)
When you think, how do you think? I know that's a really hard question, so I guess I'll give an example.
When you see the word "cat" what are you thinking - do you say the word cat in your head, do you visulaize the animal, or do you see the word in your head? And when you are thinking about an imaginary scenario, do you see a "video" of it in your head, do you narrate what is happening/being said in your head or do you only hear what is being said?
Just asking :smile:
Original post by Martins1
Just out of curiosity (and this may seem weird), but can I ask you something? (Well technically I already have, but another thing...)
When you think, how do you think? I know that's a really hard question, so I guess I'll give an example.
When you see the word "cat" what are you thinking - do you say the word cat in your head, do you visulaize the animal, or do you see the word in your head? And when you are thinking about an imaginary scenario, do you see a "video" of it in your head, do you narrate what is happening/being said in your head or do you only hear what is being said?
Just asking :smile:


I will answer you, but tomorrow because I had such a bad night sleep and have been doing mindmaps all day for my History exam tomorrow, so am too tired to even visualise/think of anything because both things together have given me a headache. Was pretty stupid leaving it this late... Also, I will try and think spontaneously tomorrow so it is an accurate explanation, tried now but was too busy trying to think about the way I respond than just letting myself. Will give you a DM then :smile:

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