Thread: photographic memory, would you want it?

wow, amazing responses. For one thing, i have always been fascinated with autism. My mother says that she used to think I was autistic, although I don't really know that and she is a bit strange anyway, making complicated solutions or explanations when there is a really simple answer...

I didn't have any friends until i was in 1st grade really, and even at that, it was more like someone who followed me around and talked to me wile I thought of other stuff. I only made "real friends" in late elementary school. I also didn't learn to talk properly until Kindergarden after a few years of speech therapy. but anyway, enough of my life story. Personally, I think I am just really introverted. Prehaps though, I have this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-functioning_autism
of which I fit the symptoms of can't hold eye contact, engage in play (yeah, causes a lot of problems in school when everyone wants to play sports and I no will or want at all to although I can enjoy video games so that may cancel that out), and pick up on social cues which is the worst because i can NOT tell how people feel, especially about me, without them telling me directly. And there is the problem of "showing affection" which I even when I would LIKE to do, I have no idea what to do.

anyway, that is most likely just poor social skills and introversionism. I just thought i would throw that out there.

But back to the photographic memory thing, The responses saying that you don't remember everything are interesting, and make it even more appealing to me. One question though. Is math hard for those of you with photographic memory? It would seem that it would be if you thought mostly in pictures.

Math is hard to contemplate even in the simplest form-- for instance, addition: I see the numbers as big bulky text with pretty well no value other than the picture of the number itself, trying to push in between a set of numbers below it. SOMETIMES I see the numbers morph into one another, like a 4 bonding from the top point of a 6 and dripping down to an 0 and kicking the number in front slowly to +1... yeah, it's a bit inconvenient.

Algebra is a bit easier, and as long as I have a handy calculator with me it's alright-- just the deep thinking problems I can't do.

I'm pretty sure a "photographic memory" is something boring people say they have to make themselves feel interesting.

Originally Posted by sheogorath

But back to the photographic memory thing, The responses saying that you don't remember everything are interesting, and make it even more appealing to me. One question though. Is math hard for those of you with photographic memory? It would seem that it would be if you thought mostly in pictures.

This is interesting because for me and my form of memory thinking in pictures. When i am doing math like 2+2 i will see two 2's floating next to each other in my minds eye and they sort of merge to show 4, they also have there own color depending on the numbers, for example 2 is yellow and 4 is lime green for me. The funny thing is that i am not overly excellent at math because in general math is a logical experience rather then creative and also i don't really take much interest in it personally so that's probably another factor.

Also when i see the numbers in the minds eye my normal eyes kinda fade out to black a little bit and i start seeing as if I'm looking inwards, none of that floating numbers in front of the physical eyes stuff.

Originally Posted by IndigoGhost

Cool is it not?

It's amazing

Originally Posted by sheogorath

But back to the photographic memory thing, The responses saying that you don't remember everything are interesting, and make it even more appealing to me. One question though. Is math hard for those of you with photographic memory? It would seem that it would be if you thought mostly in pictures.

No, math comes pretty easy for me.

I find math pretty easy.

Originally Posted by Majestic

while for you might automatically remember it on the spot fast, and easy.

Do you do any art or something that uses creativity? I bet your good at that.

Is recalling dreams is easy for you?

Yes
Yes
Yes.


Awesome!

Originally Posted by Majestic

photographic memory IS real. Autistic people think in pictures and images. Think Temple Grandin. It's predominately right-brain thinking, and has it's advantages.

And yes I do want it, i'm actually working on developing that side now .When I socialize with people, instead of thinking of words, I think of pictures, images, and visualization instead to go with it. This is also how to establish a link between conscious and subconscious mind.

I'm autistic, but am horrible at remembering scenes, unless they are in dreams

Originally Posted by Grod

I'm pretty sure a "photographic memory" is something boring people say they have to make themselves feel interesting.

you're pretty much wrong, also does trolling feel good or something?

I wasn't going to state i had it until you posted that Grod...

I have it, and unless i'm trying to memorize speech or written words, i use it all the time accompanied with regular memory, it's like visual memory bookmarks, it helps to quickly reference pieces of your memory, also, when i'm drawing free handed, i visualize what i want to draw and hold it in my head for a while, then i stare at the paper and project it onto it visually untill it becomes a strong photographic memory and then i just draw what i'm seeing visually as a memory projected, it's a little difficult to explain. I also use it for cataloging other memories, as i'll reference a time, then a visual of that moment the visually replay that scene and let anything said naturally filter in from my regular memory... it's very very helpful, and i would hate to lose it

Edit: Hey OldManRiver! (lol sorry just had to) but rly, math does come easy, not saying i'm a super smart, but what i do know, i visually project it in front of me and then hold a photographic memory of it in front of me while working the problem, runs pretty quickly... also, i do the thing with the book also, i read the really good parts and just grab the memory of the so-so parts and "read over" them while reading other pages...

Originally Posted by MementoMori

you're pretty much wrong, also does trolling feel good or something?

I wasn't going to state i had it until you posted that Grod...

I have it, and unless i'm trying to memorize speech or written words, i use it all the time accompanied with regular memory, it's like visual memory bookmarks, it helps to quickly reference pieces of your memory, also, when i'm drawing free handed, i visualize what i want to draw and hold it in my head for a while, then i stare at the paper and project it onto it visually untill it becomes a strong photographic memory and then i just draw what i'm seeing visually as a memory projected, it's a little difficult to explain. I also use it for cataloging other memories, as i'll reference a time, then a visual of that moment the visually replay that scene and let anything said naturally filter in from my regular memory... it's very very helpful, and i would hate to lose it

Edit: Hey OldManRiver! (lol sorry just had to) but rly, math does come easy, not saying i'm a super smart, but what i do know, i visually project it in front of me and then hold a photographic memory of it in front of me while working the problem, runs pretty quickly... also, i do the thing with the book also, i read the really good parts and just grab the memory of the so-so parts and "read over" them while reading other pages...

A good tip is to stay calm and level headed. It helps to clearly express your ideas. Also please don't imply I'm trolling when you disagree with what I'm saying, it gives off a weak connotation to an argument.

Now. Can you tell me the difference between that and strong visualization skills? A lot of people do the projection thing, I do the same thing when I'm drawing.

i apologize if i seemed upset, i was not, bad word usage on my part perhaps, also, i use it in combination with strong visualization skills, to visualize it, project it, then keep it as a photographic memory, the difference is not having to visualize it again, just remembering it does the visualizing naturally

Originally Posted by MementoMori

the difference is not having to visualize it again, just remembering it does the visualizing naturally

I suppose this is where I see the problem. So you're saying that you don't have to visualize a certain image, but calling upon the memory does the visualization automatically?

I mean, that's what I think most people do. Call upon their memory of an image and it will popup in their head. Unless I'm misunderstanding something?

in greater detail, and it comes naturally, like, not even with art or books... like if i were to remember a conversation with someone, i would immediately see the place where it happened along with the surrounding people, then the entire scene would play through my mind, not like when you just remember the words, or the actions... it's hard for me to describe

Originally Posted by MementoMori

in greater detail, and it comes naturally, like, not even with art or books... like if i were to remember a conversation with someone, i would immediately see the place where it happened along with the surrounding people, then the entire scene would play through my mind, not like when you just remember the words, or the actions... it's hard for me to describe

I can understand it, I see it in the mind's eye though almost like i go into instant spontaneous meditation and completely shut off to the outside world. This may or may not be what you mean.

Originally Posted by IndigoGhost

I can understand it, I see it in the mind's eye though almost like i go into instant spontaneous meditation and completely shut off to the outside world. This may or may not be what you mean.

I do the exact same thing. I don't think it's photographic memory, just a visual memory, which is better than just remembering what was said etc.
Like every time someone mentions something that happened, I visualise the whole thing, probably just in a second or so, but I see the whole thing in my mind and pretty much completely block out the external world. And then continue the conversation. It's quite strange really.

I have an insanely good memory, better than anyone I know. But I don't think it's photographic.

And yes I would love to have that.

Originally Posted by Sheogorath

Is math hard for those of you with photographic memory? It would seem that it would be if you thought mostly in pictures.

Afaik, math should be easy. For example, you look at a textbook with the rules for some certain type of equation, then you come across that equation in a test or in your work or whatever. You can just pull that image of the textbook up and see the rules for that type of equation. Then just follow them, substituting the numbers you're using in place of the ones that were in the example in the textbook.

How would a photographic memory work in dreams? Would you remember your dreams visually almost perfectly, because of that kind of memory or will the brain try to sweep your memory clean from dreams regardless of your special memory?

Well some people have said that they can't remember their dreams well, others have said they can. I guess it depends on the person. Also, the brain works completely differently while asleep.