SCIENCE BEHIND THE PERFECT MEMORY - A PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY

Well, I have seen many people having astounding memories.  So this is how the thought of writing about photographic memory struck me. But there is not exactly any verified case where the memory works like a camera. Even though there's no such thing as a photographic memory, there are indeed, some people who are very gifted. Basically, this is more like a special ability that some people have, which helps them capture visual images momentarily, and recall a past scene in detail with great accuracy. 

Usually, it's easier to remember the things that we see more easily than the things we hear. So what could possibly be the reason behind this photographic memory? What is the science behind photographic memory? Does it actually exist?

There is a condition called Highly Superior Autographic Memory (HSAM) which is present in some people. These people with HSAM can recall past scenarios with great detail, including the exact dates on which the scenarios occurred. Of course having such memories is really exceptional, but certainly it isn't as perfect as photographs. Understanding what happens in the brain of a person with HSAM is yet to be done by doctors, and people with HSAM are not like anyway superior learners or something, they just retain the memories better. People with HSAM maybe able to recite pages upon pages from a book without error, and might often fail to do the reverse. If their memories were actually like photos, they should have easily been able to do the same in reverse order too.

Most often, eidetic memory and photographic memory are considered to be synonymous to each other. Eidetic memory is seen in a few children, but this assumption of its existence is far from its conclusiveness. Eidetic memory is primarily controlled by the posterior parietal cortex in the brain. This is the part of the brain through which various stimuli are processed, and images are retained. For most people, these images are stored only for a few seconds before being transferred to short - term memory. 

Our memories might work to some extent like a lens, but of course, our memory isn't like some camera that captures every little detail - well if that were the case, probably we would all go mad. Well everyone does have an eidetic memory. According to a well accepted study of memory, the first step in memory storage is sensory memory. Generally, information is stored here only for a brief period of time, and is either lost entirely at a later stage or if given proper attention, processed further. 

Memory is believed to be facilitated by changes at the neural level due to long - term potentiation. Basically, this phenomenon is the strengthening of synaptic efficiency through repeated use over time, producing long - term memories. Usually, this type of induction takes several rounds of stimulation in order to produce the increased efficiency of the neural system. Well, it is obvious that in a small segment of population, environmental and genetic factors might lower the threshold of the final effect a little, resulting in the sensory memory being stored as a visual image instead of being lost or processed conceptually.

Detailed neurological testing could probably be the solution for understanding the real cause of such extraordinarily clear and detailed memories to form. 

Probably, photographic memory appears to be fictional because it might be the result of a very rare combination of environmental and genetic factors, or maybe an uncommon genetic mutation? I leave this question to all the curious minds sitting and reading this post. Could this be the reason? Why or why not? Just like knuckle cracking, this is another mystery, yet to be cracked by our encephalon. 

Keep the scientific spirit on, stay safe !

                                          

                                         

Image credits: wikiHow