eidetic imagery
eidetic imagery, an unusually vivid subjective visual phenomenon. An eidetic person claims to continue to βseeβ an object that is no longer objectively present. Eidetic persons behave as if they are actually seeing an item, either with their eyes closed or while looking at some surface that serves as a convenient background for the image. Furthermore, eidetic persons describe the image as if it is still present and not as if they are recalling a past event. The incidence of eidetic imagery is very low in children (2β10 percent) and almost nonexistent in adults.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
This article was most recently revised and updated by Adam Augustyn.
Citation Information
Article Title:
eidetic imagery
Website Name:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published:
19 June 2026
Access Date:
November 14, 2026