An attempt to assess eidetic imagery objectively

Toward a neurological theory of eidetic imagery

“…Since most of the recent empirical studies have assumed this relationship to be valid, there is little new evidence on subjects beyond puberty. Gummerman, Gray, and Wilson (1972) tested a large sample of adults and found no eidetics, and Giray et al (1978) found a percentage near zero among ages 20-60. There have also been a number of crosscultural studies primarily using adults in less literate societies, but I will consider these separately below, since they represent a special problem of interpretation.…”

Individual differences in imaging behavior: vividness and controllability

“…In the general population, the frequency of children's possessing eidetic ability varies with the study (i.e., 8 to 50%) (Haber, 1969;Gummerman et al, 1972;Siipola and Hayden, 1965). Pierro (1967) found that good spellers are good eidetic imagers, but there were no sex differ ences.…”

“…Eidetic images appear to be externally located, vivid, long-lasting, positive in color, and do not require a fixed gaze (Gummerman et al, 1972;Kessel, 1972;Leask et al, 1969;Richardson, 1969). The following crite ria were established by Haber and Haber (1964) for verifying a person's ability to produce eidetic images, "(1) An image must be reported, (2) it must be colored positively, (3) it must be localized on the easel (rather than in the head), (4) the subject must use the present tense to describe the image, and (5) eye movements made during the report must correspond to the part of the picture described.…”

“…The literature abounds with independently derived and untested, home-spun assessment devices and methodologies (Baylor, 1972;Betts, 1909;Brower, 1947;Danaher & Thoresen, 1972;Gummerman et al, 1972;Haber & Haber, 1964;Jaensch, 1930;Kliiver, 1928;Leibovitz et al, 1972;Montague & Carter, 1973;Rehm, 1973;Rimm & Bottrell, 1969;Sheehan, 1966a;Wegman & Weber, 1973). Kessel (1972) suggests that one factor in the increasing trend of imagery research is that the Zeitgeist is cognitive-experimental.…”

“…The following crite ria were established by Haber and Haber (1964) for verifying a person's ability to produce eidetic images, "(1) An image must be reported, (2) it must be colored positively, (3) it must be localized on the easel (rather than in the head), (4) the subject must use the present tense to describe the image, and (5) eye movements made during the report must correspond to the part of the picture described. Two secondary criteria are that the image last longer than 40 seconds and that the report be reasonably accu rate" (Gummerman et al, 1972).…”