Synesthesia

What is synesthesia?

Synesthesia occurs when an inducing stimulus (the inducer) results in the usual response plus an additional response (the concurrent). A common example is where a person consistently and automatically experiences the colour purple in response to seeing the letter B (this is called grapheme-color synesthesia). Synesthetic concurrents can be experienced out in peri-personal space, surrounding a social other (usually around the head and shoulders, e.g., in auras or personality-color synesthesia), in and on one’s own body or in the mind’s eye as a labeled knowing (e.g., a mathematical equation or that a month of the year is “yellow”).

Synesthesia occurs strongly (consistently in response to the same stimulus) in around 4% of the population who report having this experience since childhood (congenital synesthesia). It tends to run in families, but family members do not necessarily have the same type.

For other people, synesthesias may be contextual and occur only when they are in altered states of consciousness or emotional states. For others, synesthesia emerges following neural damage and there is also some evidence that some synesthesias can be learned. Some estimates propose that there are around 150 different types of synesthesia.

Synesthesia and exceptional experiences

Our research suggests that those with synesthetic tendencies may be more likely to experience some other exceptional experiences. People with synesthesia also tend to have really good memories, good imaginations and may be more likely to be an artist or musician than people who do not experience the world this way.

Are you synesthetic?

Many people do not realize they are synesthetes as this is simply the way in which you experience the world. You can explore your own synesthesia here The Synesthesia Battery

Should you worry about these experiences?

Synesthetic experiences are often highly valued by the people who have them. Sometimes, however, it is difficult growing up with experiences that are different from others of others. Professor Simner at Sussex University in the UK has assembled a Toolkit to help support children and families who experience synesthesia as well as educators in schools - see: Synesthesia Toolkit

Further reading

Sean Day is a synesthete who is also a writer and researcher about synesthesia. His website is a very useful resource for synesthetes and those interested in synesthesia. It also includes a list of articles about this fascinating topic - Sean Day's website on Synesthesia .