Visual memory
Visual memory
Visual memory is part of memory preserving some characteristics of our senses pertaining to visual experience. We are able to place in memory information that resembles objects, places, animals or people in sort of a mental image. Some authors refer to this experience as an “our mind's eye” through which we can retrieve from our memory a mental image of the original object, place, animal or person. First person to give serious consideration to visual imagery was Sir Francis Galton (1822-1911) in the field of individual differences. In his research Galton asked his subjects to describe and rate their visual images on vividness. His research showed vide range of clarity ranging from vivid mental images to none among his test subjects (Galton 1883).
Since this way of judging mental image has very little scientific objectivity, psychologist devised more objective way of evaluating mental images based on how much information can be retrieved from mental images. Over all there are not conclusive data that would support any benefits from visual mnemonics (Baddeley, 1976)
Eidetic imagary
Eidetic imagery is perhaps the only kind that produces actual visual memory that can be looked at similarly as if at looking actual picture. Lake, Haber and Haber produced a study in which they presented a subject with an image for 30 s. After removing the image the subjects ware asked whether they could see anything. In a study of elementary school children they presented them with an illustration of Alice in Wonderland. After removing it some children were describing with a vivid accuracy the image they have seen.(Haber 1969)
Eidetic imagery seams to have more effect on children since the adult subject did not describe similar experience. Koslyn contributes this difference to the luck of verbal and conceptual systems in children when comparing to adult models (Koslyn 1980, 1984)
Photographic memory
There is also no supportive evidence of photographic memory. This phenomenon is usually contributed to some people exceptional skills in mental organization.
===Iconic memory=== [1]
Spatial memory
Spatial memory could be also subcategory of visual memory since it relies on a mental map 'Neural Basis of Spatial Memeory is fascinating web site focusing on the physiological aspect of spatial memory. [2]
References
Gleitman, H.(1991)Psychology, 7, 275-278.