Visual memory test

Visual memory plays a vital role in the life of every person. Recognizing the face of a familiar person in a crowd, getting to the desired address without checking a map, or instantly determining the desired color/pattern - all this can be done by visual images imprinted in memory.

They can be compared to photographs, which are always stored in the head and help us navigate the surrounding space by comparison. Visual memory is not called “photographic” for nothing.

Visual memory

Scientific definition

According to the official definition, visual memory is the memorization of information perceived by the organs of vision. Alternative names for this phenomenon are visual and photographic memory.

80% of people are visual learners - they remember visual information best, rather than auditory, tactile, olfactory and gustatory information. In this, man is fundamentally different from most animals, for whom the olfactory organs come first. For example, cats and dogs navigate primarily by smell - they remember smells and their combinations just as well as we remember visual images.

The occipital lobe of the brain is responsible for visual memory. When it is injured, a person may lose the ability to recognize others, which in psychology is called mental blindness.

During normal functioning of the brain, most visual images are automatically assigned unique names. For example, when we see the face of a familiar actor, we remember his name, moments from the films in which he starred, and other related information. If the connection between verbal and visual images is broken, we cannot remember the names of people and places where we met them, although we know for sure that they are familiar to us.

A typical example of how visual memory works can be described in several points:

We see a person’s face and subconsciously compare it with all the variety of visual images in long-term memory.
If a match is found, we recognize the person and remember the information associated with him.
If there are no matches, the person is characterized as a stranger.

This whole process can take a split second: if a familiar person has not changed since the last meeting, recognition occurs almost instantly. As we age and our central nervous system deteriorates, it becomes increasingly difficult for us to recognize and compare familiar faces and objects. Reasons for deterioration of visual memory can also be head injuries, severe stress and the use of various psychostimulants.

History of the study

In different historical eras, visual memory was described as a mental process, as a function of the psyche, and as a system of associations. The first scientific works on this topic date back to the 17th century, but were of a rather chaotic nature.

Only in the 19th century, Wolfgang Köhler and Kurt Gottschaldt developed a clear Gestalt theory that describes visual memory as an integral system that includes memorization, storage and reproduction of received visual data.

Gestalt theory was replaced at the beginning of the 20th century by the semantic theory of Karl Bühler and Alfred Binet. She prioritized the meanings embedded in certain visual images, which, depending on the semantic load, are remembered better or worse in human memory.

Finally, in the second half of the 20th century, a new point of view was proposed - information-cybernetic. It made it possible to evaluate the process of memorizing and reproducing images in the form of algorithms similar to those used in computer technology.

Interesting facts

The richer the imagination, the better the visual memory. A person remembers more easily and mentally reproduces what he can imagine.
Human memory is formed throughout life, but active development continues until the age of 25. The first signs of memory loss in most cases appear after 50 years.
The potential memory capacity, according to American scientists, is approaching a petabyte - a thousand terabytes of data (approximately 217,872 DVDs). At the same time, bad memories are repressed first, and pleasant impressions remain for a long time - this is how the psyche is protected from overstrain.
With the help of constant training, two-time Guinness Book of Records holder Samvel Gharibyan learned to memorize printed texts. In 1990, his excellent visual memory allowed him to repeat 1000 random words from foreign languages without errors. In 2000, this extraordinary man memorized 2,000 Russian words that were not related in meaning.
Over time, memories can become distorted, faded, and overgrown with false details. In addition, a person can be implanted with fictitious details and memories of fictitious events.

Any exercise that develops attention will be useful in developing visual memory. The test is one of these simulators with proven effectiveness.

Visual memory is primarily important for representatives of creative professions: designers, artists, engineers, architects, sculptors.

It is also difficult for police officers, ticket takers, watchmen, security guards, and other employees who, due to the nature of their work, have to constantly remember faces and special features of people to do without it.

There is an opinion that it is impossible to develop visual memory, and it is given from birth. But in reality this is not the case, and anyone can learn to memorize visual images using special exercises/methods.

Visual memory exercises

Visual memory is inextricably linked with attention (perception) and imagination. Once you have captured a vivid image in your memory (which made a strong impression on you), you can remember it for the rest of your life in the smallest details and nuances.

But how to learn to remember insignificant visual phenomena that do not fall into the categories of important, shocking and extraordinary? There are special exercises for this, which are often used by aspiring artists, writers, musicians and many other creative people.

Storage and playback

Visual memory is the ability to capture, store and reproduce visual information. You can learn this with the help of the simplest, improvised means.

For example, place matches on the table in the form of some complex figure or pattern, remember their location and try to repeat the action after some time. To be able to check the result, take a photo of the first layout option and compare it with the second option.

Memorizing complex images

Pick up several complex graphic compositions that depict many different objects with small details. Look carefully at the picture for a minute, then turn it over and try to describe everything down to the smallest detail.

The description can be done in your head, orally (out loud) or by taking notes on paper/computer. The last option is preferable, as it makes it possible to verify the source and its description.

Assessing the environment

Wherever you go, look around and carefully assess your surroundings. Buildings, trees, passing people, passing cars and so on.

Your goal is not just to glance at them, but to record and remember what you see. When you come home, try to remember as much as possible of what you saw and translate it into visual images.

Replay what you see

Fix and remember any object from the environment, preferably of a complex shape/configuration, and then try to depict it on paper from memory, without checking the original.

The ability to draw well is not necessary for this; the main thing is to convey the whole essence of the object/object without missing out on its small details. By training with different types of landscapes and still lifes, you can succeed well in developing your imagination and visual memory.

Exercise “Rhombus”

Write down a few words on a piece of paper, at least 8-10 (preferably more): as their length increases and vice versa. That is, at the top of the list write a word of three letters, then of four, of five, of six, and then - downwards: of six, five, four and three.

You will get a conditional diamond, which you need to carefully read from top to bottom and remember. Put the piece of paper aside and after some time, try to write down the same words from memory: in the same order as on the source. The ultimate goal is to learn to remember and reproduce large “diamonds”: 15-20 complex words.

Storing multiple objects

Reproducing in detail one visual image or several is not the same thing at all. Our short-term memory always works in power-saving mode, and often refuses to write down unnecessary information that is not of vital importance.

So, having seen 5-6 passing cars, you are unlikely to remember their models, brands and colors exactly: provided that you do not remember them on purpose. This is the essence of the exercise: peer and remember the details of several objects (from five or more), and then reproduce what you saw.

The listed exercises do not require any special equipment and financial investments. It is enough to use objects/objects at hand.

Visual memory can be developed, but first you need to determine how you can remember visual images. With the help of the test, you can test short-term visual memory (you will see a series of flashing tiles, the location of which you need to remember and repeat). We wish you a good result - you can do it!

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Visual memory test