Who has a perfect memory?

Having a perfect memory, or eidetic memory, is very rare. Only a small percentage of people are believed to have true eidetic memory. So who has this ability and what does it entail?

Table of Contents

What is eidetic memory?

Eidetic memory, also known as photographic memory, is the ability to vividly recall images, sounds or objects in memory after only a few instances of exposure. It is as if the memories are ‘photographed’ into the brain and can be recalled or ‘replayed’ with precision and accuracy.

People with eidetic memory are able to recall page numbers, small details, or patterns from years earlier. However, eidetic memory does not necessarily imply a perfect memory. There are important limitations.

First, eidetic memory does not allow a person to instantly understand information or have quick analytical abilities. Information is simply recalled accurately, not necessarily fully comprehended. Second, eidetic memory is not perfect recall, but rather visual recall. People with a photographic memory can recall vivid mental images, but other sensory information like sounds, tastes or smells are not necessarily better encoded.

How common is eidetic memory ability?

True eidetic memory is very rare. Some estimates suggest as few as 1 in 30,000 adults have it. Other estimates are as high as 1 in 10,000 to 100,000 people.

Children are more likely to have eidetic memory than adults. Infants and young children are believed to have more neuroplasticity, or the ability of their brains to make new connections. As a result, a much higher proportion of children may have memory abilities that resemble eidetic qualities. But in most cases, these abilities are lost by the age of 6 to 7 years old.

In adults, eidetic memory persists in a very small percentage of people. This indicates there may be unique anatomical differences in how their brains encode memories that other people do not possess.

Famous examples of eidetic memory

While true eidetic memory is rare, there are several well-known examples of people who claim to possess this ability:

Solomon Shereshevskii – A famous Russian newspaper reporter and psychologist Alexander Luria’s patient in the 1920s. He claimed to have almost limitless memory abilities even as an adult.
Stephen Wiltshire – famous British architectural artist who is capable of drawing highly detailed scenes and cityscapes from memory after briefly observing them.
Kim Peek – An American savant who was the inspiration for the movie “Rain Man”. Although he had significant intellectual disabilities, he could recall vast amounts of information, including memorizing over 12,000 books from beginning to end.

Marilu Henner – An American actress who claims to have eidetic memory and can recall specific details from nearly every day of her life.

However, scientific evidence for perfect eidetic memory in famous cases is often limited. Some critics believe examples like Kim Peek may have used mnemonic strategies to recall information rather than having innate eidetic memory. Others like Marilu Henner may have excellent memory, but likely not to the extent of eidetic abilities.

Is eidetic memory genetic?

Research on the genetics behind eidetic memory is limited, but there are some clues:

Family patterns – Some studies on groups of people with superior autobiographical memory have found family members also have better than average recall, suggesting a potential genetic component.
Structural differences – People with exceptional memory appear to have increased grey matter density and differences in hippocampal volume compared to controls.
Cognitive similarities – Eidetikers often have shared cognitive patterns like creating vivid mental imagery to encode memories.

While the specific genes have not been identified, this evidence hints that eidetic memory likely has some genetic underpinnings that influence brain structure and cognition. The abilities are then further shaped by individual experiences.

How does eidetic memory work in the brain?

There are several theories on the neural basis of eidetic memory and why some brains develop this ability:

Enhanced visual memory pathways – Some research found eidetikers had more grey matter in areas linked to visual processing and episodic memory encoding like the middle temporal lobe.

Cross-wiring with visual cortex – One theory suggests memories are so vivid because visual processing and memory encoding areas are abnormally cross-activated during recall.
Hyperactivated memory consolidation – The hippocampus and related memory areas may be hyperstimulated, allowing extremely accurate encoding.

Overall, eidetic memory may arise from unique structural and functional brain wiring that allows memories to be recalled with picture-perfect accuracy after only brief exposure.

Are there advantages to eidetic memory?

In certain situations, eidetic memory provides advantages:

Rapid learning – Information may only need to be presented once to be mastered.
Detail recollection – Minute details across long time periods can be accurately recalled.

Creative inspiration – Vivid memories can spark new connections and creativity.

However, there are also unique challenges. As memories are so detailed, some report getting caught up in reminiscing about the past and find staying present difficult. Information recall also does not necessarily lead to comprehension, critical thinking or good judgment.

Can you improve memory to an eidetic level?

Normal memory can be improved through techniques like:

Mnemonics – Memory palace, linking, visualization
Spaced repetition
Dual coding – words and visuals

Chunking information
Removing distractions
Exercise and sleep habits

However, improving to the level of true eidetic memory is unlikely for most people. Eidetic ability appears rooted in unique neurologic wiring and cognitive patterns built from an early age. Adults are unlikely to develop true photographic memory without innate skills present from childhood.

Are there downsides to eidetic memory?

While benefits exist, eidetic memory also has downsides:

Overwhelming details – Recall of irrelevant facts can impair filtering what’s important.

Rumination – Inability to forget trauma or embarrassing moments leads to rumination.
Alienation – Feeling fundamentally different from others.
Fatigue – Constant memorization and recall is mentally fatiguing.

Like other savant skills, eidetic memory may represent a cognitive trade-off between extreme ability and disability. Many with profound gifts for recall also have developmental conditions like autism.

How is eidetic memory tested scientifically?

Testing eidetic memory presents challenges. Claims are often based on anecdotes or memory demonstrations that can be misleading. Accurate scientific measurement requires rigorous testing under controlled conditions.

To assess eidetic memory, researchers use tests like:

Visual memory tasks – View drawings, photos or patterns then redraw from memory.
Verbal recall – Remember and recite long strings of numbers, words or letters.
Recounting experiences – Tell diaries or events from decades earlier in detail.

Despite claims of “perfect recall”, eidetic memory has limits. Scientific testing aims to reveal the scope and limitations of ability.

Does photographic memory exist? Conclusion

In summary:

True eidetic memory is very rare, estimated in 1 in 30,000 people or fewer.

Abilities decline after childhood for most.
Genetics likely play a role, creating differences in brain structure and cognition.
Advantages like rapid learning exist, but there are also unique challenges.

Developing true eidetic memory as an adult is unlikely for most people.
Claims should be verified with rigorous testing.

While exceedingly rare, eidetic memory represents the extreme end of human memory potential. Understanding the genetic roots and neural basis for these special skills continues to be an area of fascination and scientific insight into the remarkable capabilities of the human brain.

Bibliography

Here are sources referenced for this article:

Stromeyer, C. F., & Psotka, J. (1970). The detailed texture of eidetic images. Nature, 225(5231), 346-349.
Haber, R. N., & Haber, L. (1964). Eidetic imagery: I. Frequency. Perceptual and motor skills, 19(1), 131-138.

Liu, J., Li, J., Feng, L., Li, L., Tian, J., & Lee, K. (2014). Seeing Jesus in toast: neural and behavioral correlates of face pareidolia. Cortex, 53, 60-77.
Parker, E. S., Cahill, L., & McGaugh, J. L. (2006). A case of unusual autobiographical remembering. Neurocase, 12(1), 35-49.
Treffert, D. A., & Christensen, D. D. (2005). Inside the mind of a savant. Scientific American, 293(6), 108-113.

LePort, A. K., Mattfeld, A. T., Dickinson-Anson, H., Fallon, J. H., Stark, C. E., Kruggel, F., … & McGaugh, J. L. (2012). Behavioral and neuroanatomical investigation of Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM). Neurobiology of learning and memory, 98(1), 78-92.