Eidetic Imagery: I. Frequency

Abstract

Eidetic imagery, defined as a visual image persisting after stimulation, relatively accurate in detail, colored positively, and capable of being scanned, was measured in nearly all children in an elementary school in New Haven, Conn. Care was taken to specify and follow precise methods for the measurement, and strict criteria were used for the discrimination of eidetic images from after images and from memory. Discontinuous distributions of scores were found on all of the measures used to define eidetic images, with 12 Ss (8%) falling into this qualitatively different eidetic category on each measure Their images lasted as long as 4 min., during which nearly all of the details of the stimulus could be reproduced. However, their memory of the stimulus was not much better after their imagery had faded than that of Ss who did not have eidetic imagery. These results were discussed in terms of models of translation of stimulation into memory, and further research was outlined.