How does visual memory work part 2 Last time I covered how short-term visual memory gets wiped, just like a file from a computer. But if an image can sneak through to our long-term memory, our recall is much better. Another experiment showed participants thousands of scenes over 5 hours, and then gave them a series of forced choice tests, where the participant had to say which image they had seen before and which was new. Recall was excellent = 96% correct, despite needing to remember nearly 3000 images. So, what determines if a visual memory is wiped from short-term, or sticks in our long-term memory? It turns out that meaningfulness is the important factor. If an image is in some way recognisable to us it carries meaning, making it more important, so we hang on to it. These two experiments explain why different memories are not eliminated from our memory equally, and some not at all. It also explains why we are so hopeless at remembering some things, yet so awesome at remembering others. Tony Ireland Evolve Optometry Shop G03, Village Centre, Batemans Bay | 4472 8080 www.evolveoptometry.com.au evolve OPTOMETRY How does visual memory work part 2 Last time I covered how short - term visual memory gets wiped , just like a file from a computer . But if an image can sneak through to our long - term memory , our recall is much better . Another experiment showed participants thousands of scenes over 5 hours , and then gave them a series of forced choice tests , where the participant had to say which image they had seen before and which was new . Recall was excellent = 96 % correct , despite needing to remember nearly 3000 images . So , what determines if a visual memory is wiped from short - term , or sticks in our long - term memory ? It turns out that meaningfulness is the important factor . If an image is in some way recognisable to us it carries meaning , making it more important , so we hang on to it . These two experiments explain why different memories are not eliminated from our memory equally , and some not at all . It also explains why we are so hopeless at remembering some things , yet so awesome at remembering others . Tony Ireland Evolve Optometry Shop G03 , Village Centre , Batemans Bay | 4472 8080 www.evolveoptometry.com.au evolve OPTOMETRY