Synaesthesia - Weird or Wonderful?
Senses in overdrive!
There is a revival in interest in the fascinating condition known as 'Synaesthesia' (Synesthesia), and research is currently taking place into the condition on both sides of the Atlantic. It has certainly featured in radio
and television programmes in the last decade in Britain, and is currently under discussion.
BUT... What is Synaesthesia?
It is when one sense triggers off another sense, when two or more senses are mixed. The word synaesthesia is Greek in origin and can be literally translated as 'joint perception or sensation' - as opposed to 'anaesthesia - no perception'!
So - synaesthetes may 'see' colours and shapes when they hear a sound (coloured hearing),
or 'see' words, letters and numbers in terms of colour,
or 'taste' shapes,
or 'smell' colour.
This condition has been documented for at least 300 years, and can be found in different cultures, different places, across social divides.
Is the condition real - or could it be that 'synaesthetes' are playing elaborate games? The retesting of true synaesthete as long as 10 years later still yields the same results - the colours, shapes, tastes etc invariably are
perceived exactly the same on retesting. Even sceptical scientific researchers are convinced that the condition is genuine.
How many people are synaesthetic? It is hard to actually estimate. Some studies suggest only one person in every 250,000 are synaesthetic, other studies suggest that the number is far higher. What has been established is that:
a.. synaesthethics are usually female
b.. synaesthethics are usually left-handed
c.. the condition tends to run in families
d.. neuro-imaging data shows very different blood flow patterns in the brains of synaesthethetics.
One of the founder members of Scarlet Pixel,
Chris Gay, is a synaesthete, and her story is typical...
'I have seen letters, numbers and words in colour for as long as I can remember. It is perfectly natural to me. The colours never change. However, as a child, when I said to people that their name was a pretty colour, I was told
'not to be so silly' - you soon learn to keep your colours to yourself when no-one understands what you are talking about.'
'About 10 years ago, I heard a discussion of synaesthesia on a science programme on the radio. I had never heard of the condition before, but it was amazing - great - to learn that other people saw things the
same as I did. On finding out that the condition runs in families, I asked my mother if she saw words in colour. Her reply was, 'Well this page of writing looks black and white to me' - she could not understand what I was
seeing. Sadly, none of my three children is synaesthetic either. I know that I dream in vivid colour. I enjoy my colourful world of letters and numbers. I feel that this is a wonderful gift and I think that I am very lucky'.
Are you synaesthetic?
Do you know anyone who is?
Let us know at Scarlet Pixel.
Thanks to the Internet, there is now a wealth of easily accessible information on this subject for any of us who are interested. You can buy books detailing facts and the latest research on synaesthesia from Amazon Books including the following titles:
'The man who tasted shapes' - by Richard Cytowic.
'Synaesthesia: Classic and Contemporary Readings' - by Simon Baron-Cohen.
http://www.amazon.co.uk
© Scarlet Pixel 1999 - 2006
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