Department of Early Childhood Education
Library of the School of Education

2021-10-20

2021

Παπαμιχαλοπούλου Ελευθερία

Όλγα Πανοπούλου-Μαράτου, Ομότιμη καθηγήτρια, Τ.Ε.Α.Π.Η., Ε.Κ.Π.Α., Επιβλέπουσα
Ευστάθιος Παπασταθόπουλος, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Ψυχολογίας του Παν/μίου Ιωαννίνων, μέλος
Τιτίκα Σάλλα, Ομότιμη καθηγήτρια, Α.Σ.Κ.Τ, μέλος
Λήδα Αναγνωστάκη, Επίκουρη Καθηγήτρια, Τ.Ε.Α.Π.Η., Ε.Κ.Π.Α.
Δήμητρα Μακρυνιώτη, Καθηγήτρια, Τ.Ε.Α.Π.Η., Ε.Κ.Π.Α.
Ευδοξία Ντεροπούλου-Ντέρου, Επίκουρη Καθηγήτρια, Τ.Ε.Α.Π.Η., Ε.Κ.Π.Α.
Καλλιρρόη Παπαδοπούλου, Επίκουρη καθηγήτρια Τ.Ε.Α.Π.Η., Ε.Κ.Π.Α.

Ειδητική αντίληψη και μνήμη. Μελέτη περίπτωσης παιδιού με Διαταραχή Αυτιστικού Φάσματος

Greek

Eidetic perception and memory: Case study of a child with «Autism Spectrum Disorder»

The present thesis aims at the study of eidetic imagery through (a) the verbal description of eidetic images, and (b) the reproduction of them by drawing. Eidetic imagery is a rare and complex phenomenon by which the subject can recall the image of a visual stimulus as if it were a present optical experience, even after a long time elapses between the exposure to it and its reproduction. Eidetic imagery has retained researchers» interest since the beginning of the 20th century and has been a controversial issue because of its rarity, but also because of its specific nature as it cannot be compared to other forms of visual images, i.e. an after-image, a mental image, or a memory image. It has been studied in laboratory and clinical conditions and by different theoretical approaches. Most studies are based on the verbal description of eidetic imagery. This method is called Picture Elicitation Method in which the subject observes a picture for a short period of time and then reports what he/she has seen. Due to its rarity, eidetic memory has not been sufficiently studied in the general population. Finally, eidetic imagery has been wrongly equated, even to present day, with the exceptionally good visual memory called «photographic memory». On the other hand, eidetic memory has been related to the visual memory of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (A.S.D). Some people with ASD have been reported to possess remarkable skills in drawing; They produce high quality realistic sketches and have been called «autistic artist». The present study follows a qualitative methodological approach and is a case study of a child with A.S.D whose eidetic perception and memory was studied both by verbal recall and by the drawing reproduction of different visual images in two instances; one immediately after the exposure to the visual image and one week later. The research was carried out in three distinct stages: (a) a pilot study, (b) an explorative stage regarding the type of stimuli to be presented to the children singled out for studying their eidetic capacities, and (c) the main study.
 Stage 1. Pilot study
Two children with A.S.D. and excellent drawing abilities (Jason, age 10 and Daphne, age 9) were singled out by the author of this thesis at an earlier age. A control group was formed of 22 school children of matching age, sex and educational level. Twelve (12) of these children were of typical development and 10 were already diagnosed with A.S.D. syndrome. Six (6) pictures were shown to each of them and after 20΄΄ secs they were asked to describe them verbally. Daphne could not follow instructions and refused to cooperate. Jason, on the other hand, could describe verbally all the pictures shown to him and was eager to cooperate. It was then decided to study Jason’s excellent eidetic capacity, as a case study. Daphne remained in the study for the second stage of this research as her drawing reproductions of illustrations in children’s books and videos had eidetic characteristics and were reproduced a long time after she had first seen them.
 
 Stage 2. Exploration of various types of visual stimuli; reproductions by drawing
During this stage of preparation for the main study which lasted more than a year, a series of visual stimuli, i.e. illustrations from children»s books, comics, three dimensional models and videos were presented to Jason and Daphne. Both children, after observing the stimuli for a short time, reproduced them with accuracy by drawing them immediately afterwards, one week, three months and one year later.
 Stage 3. Case study-Jason
The eidetic ability was studied through two discrete techniques of reproduction of images. One was based on verbal recall of visual stimuli, whereas the second one was based on its reproduction by drawing. The reproductions were realized (a) immediately following the optical exposure, and (b) one week later.
For the main study seven (7) visual stimuli were used;
 One three-dimensional building
 One photograph of a three- dimensional building
 Two (2) original illustrated drawings produced by a painter specifically
for the purposes of this research
 Two (2) comics
 The Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test.
The specific characteristics and the type of imagery were explored and connected to the type and the content of the visual stimuli and to the way they were perceptually explored by Jason. The analysis of data from both the verbal recall and drawing reproductions of all seven stimuli showed that Jason has an excellent eidetic perception and memory. As regards his capacity for imagery, it was found that while Jason reproduced by drawing the different stimuli one week after exposure, he could recall two images at the same time; the image of the original stimulus and the one of his own first drawing. The result was that some of his second drawing reproductions were often better than his first ones. It was also shown that eidetic memory cannot be equated to «photographic memory» since in some reconstructions, small errors and/or omissions of details or additions were sometimes observed in Jason’s drawing reproductions. The findings of this case study of eidetic imagery require further systematic exploration such as a comparison of the way children of typical development with good optical memory perceive, retain and recall optical pictures. This would also allow to explore probable differences in eidetic imagery capacities between children of typical development and children with A.S.D. Furthermore, research of the eidetic capacity with more children with A.S.D. can help educators devise educational programs to help them relate to physical environment.

Key words: eidetic, eidetic memory, eidetic imagery, A.S.D., children’s drawings, «savant syndrome»

Education - Sport science

Εidetic, eidetic memory, eidetic imagery, A.S.D., children’s drawings, «savant syndrome»

No

0

Yes

600

400

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https://pergamos.lib.uoa.gr/uoa/dl/object/2963182