Photographic memory - Definition and Overview

Photographic memory or eidetic memory is the ability to recall images, sounds, or objects in memory with great accuracy and in seemingly unlimited volume. For instance, many famous artists and composers like Claude Monet and Mozart possibly had eidetic memory. However, Dr. Marvin Minsky in his book The Society of Mind claims to have been unable to verify claims of eidetic memory (see sections 15.3 & 15.6) and considers reports of eidetic memory to be an "unfounded myth". Perhaps claims for eidetic memory could be considered "urban legends". The Guinness Book of Records nevertheless lists people with extraordinary memories. For example, Hideaki Tomoyori correctly recited the first 40,000 decimals of Pi in March 1987, and on November 3, 1994 Tom Groves memorized the order of cards in a randomly shuffled 52-card deck in 42.01 seconds. Whether this qualifies as eidectic or not is a matter of definition. The word eidetic itself refers to a remarkable recall of vivid images.

Many believe that autists frequently display this ability, as well as those with similar conditions like Asperger's syndrome.

Eidetic memory in fiction

This is a partial list (fictional characters with eidetic memory appear in parentheses):

• "Funes, the Memorious", a short story written by Jorge Luis Borges (Funes)
• Starman Jones, a novel written by Robert A. Heinlein (Max Jones)
• Beyond This Horizon, a novel written by Robert A. Heinlein
• Stranger in a Strange Land, a novel written by Robert A. Heinlein (Valentine Michael Smith)
• Digital Fortress, a novel written by Dan Brown (Susan Fletcher)
• The Shadow of the Torturer, a novel written by Gene Wolfe
• My Idea of Fun, a novel written by Will Self
• For Kings and Planets, a novel written by Ethan Canin
• Small Gods, a novel written by Terry Pratchett
• Red Dragon, a novel written by Thomas Harris (Will Graham)
• Quantum Leap, a television program created by Donald Bellisario (Samuel Beckett)
• Good Will Hunting, a film directed by Gus Van Sant (Will Hunting)
• Palace and The Eyes of God, novels written by Katharine Kerr and Mark Kreighbaum (Vida L'Var)

See also: Synaptic plasticity, Autistic savant / Autism, Asperger's Syndrome