Eidetic memory (from the ancient Greek "eidos" is translated as "image") is expressed in the preservation of extremely bright, colorful, detailed images of objects after they have ceased to be visible (audible, tangible). The eidetic does not reproduce the image of the object in memory, but, as it were, continues to see it. The duration of such a vision is about a minute, in rare cases - up to ten minutes. Scientists believe that such a perception of data and objects greatly increases human capabilities, many memory development techniques use eidetic techniques.
To some extent, eidetic memory is similar to hallucinations, however, if the hallucinating person is convinced of the reality of visible images, then the eidetic is aware of the unreality of the image. Both its emergence and decay are spontaneous. Perhaps that is why eideticism is not found in all people, because it is impossible to evoke an eidetic image by willpower. Therefore, eidetic memory lies somewhere between representation andfeeling.
Most often this phenomenon occurs in children, decreases with age, and only a few adults have this ability.
Studies of eidetic memory in children were carried out in Europe in the first half of the 20th century. In Russia, its mechanisms were studied by L. S. Vygotsky. It was found that this phenomenon was more often noted in those classes where visual aids were used to a greater extent in the lessons, theology was taught, and the children were more friendly. Where children were taught analytics, they were made into “little adults”, there were practically no cases of eidetism. Some researchers have linked this phenomenon with low intelligence.
Let's remember how the autistic protagonist of B. Levinson's film "Rain Man" remembered by heart all the numbers of the telephone directory and card combinations in the casino. This hero has a real prototype!
How to develop and maintain your memory? Experts recommend mnemonics and eidotechnics, known in ancient Greece.
To begin with, it should be understood that the development of human memory is directly related to attention. Are you an attentive person? Do you notice the little things? To develop eidetic memory, it is worth using exercises to memorize an image or picture. Start by "photographing" simple pictures. Mathematical formulas are also suitable - look at them for a minute, and then try to reproduce them. Complicate pictures and formulas over time.
Eidetic memory is trained very effectively with paired cards. To get started, prepare four pairscards, shuffle and place face up. Study the big picture for some time, trying to rememberwhat you saw, then turn the cards over.
Opening them one at a time, try to remember where the pair for this card lies. Your attempts should decrease over time.
Many memorization methods are built on associations, that is, what should be remembered is tied to, or correlated with already known.
Medieval students, for example, unable to buy books due to their high cost, imagined subject cities - mathematics, physics, chemistry, and walked around them in their imagination.
And finally. Different people may have different types of memory - visual, auditory, motor. When working on improving memory, it is worth using those that are less developed in you.
