What Do You Call Someone With a Good Memory?

Someone with a good memory is often referred to as having an excellent recall or being highly retentive. More specifically, such individuals may be called a mnemonist, a photographic memorizer, or simply a person with a sharp memory.

Common Terms for People With a Good Memory

There are various terms used to describe people who remember things exceptionally well. Below are the most commonly used expressions:

• Mnemonist – A person with the ability to remember large amounts of information, often studied in cognitive psychology.
• Eidetic – Someone with the rare ability to recall images, sounds, or objects in memory with high precision after only a few instances of exposure.
• Photographic Memory – A popular term (though scientifically disputed) describing individuals who can remember visual information with great detail.
• Retentive – This describes someone with a strong ability to retain and recall information.
• Hyperthymesiac – A person with Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM), who can recall personal life events in extraordinary detail.

Scientific Perspectives on Good Memory

From a cognitive science perspective, individuals with exceptional memory use a combination of innate ability and trained techniques. Some rely on memory palaces or association strategies to enhance recall. Brain regions like the hippocampus are crucial in forming and retrieving memories.

Real-World Examples

Name	Memory Type	Notable Ability
Solomon Shereshevsky	Synesthetic Mnemonist	Remembered complex lists and text using synesthesia
Kim Peek	Autistic Savant	Memorized 12,000 books and vast factual data
Jill Price	Hyperthymesiac	Remembers every day of her life in vivid detail

Conclusion

A person with a good memory may be described as a mnemonist, eidetic, or simply highly retentive. Whether through natural talent or developed skill, such individuals possess an exceptional ability to store and retrieve information accurately and efficiently.

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