Introduction
You put on your headphones and start listening to your playlist. The first note of the song causes your imagination to flash with color. As the song progresses, you witness vivid shades of red, yellow, and green dancing in the air in perfect time with the music. You're intrigued yet perplexed, wondering if you've discovered a secret superpower.
This sensation is known as synesthesia. Synesthesia causes remarkable connections between our senses. It happens when an automatic and involuntary experience in one sensory or cognitive pathway triggers a response in another. In other words, your senses "intertwine" to give you a unique perception of the world.
Though it affects roughly 2-4 percent of the world's population, synesthesia is not a well-known medical condition. Nonetheless, people have encountered it in various ways, such as the mentioned scenario. This article aims to delve into the intricacies of synesthesia, exploring its numerous forms and shedding light on the science behind this intriguing phenomenon.
Hearing Colors and Tasting Numbers?
Those who experience synesthesia are called synesthetes and either have it from birth or start to acquire it very early, although it might evolve later in life. Studies reveal that synesthesia may be inherited genetically.
The Potential Causes
Here's how it works: Each of your five senses stimulates a different part of your brain. For instance, when you listen to music, your auditory cortex is activated. If you have synesthesia, you might perceive the music as a visual experience, such as seeing colors or shapes. This sensation occurs because your brain processes sensory information in multiple ways. Due to this, scientists hypothesize that individuals with synesthesia exhibit a high degree of connectivity between the brain regions that respond to sensory input.
Certain chemicals have the potential to cause synesthesia temporarily. The ability of mescaline, psilocybin, and LSD to cause this effect has undergone study. However, researchers have also found that other stimulants, including alcohol, cannabis, and caffeine, as well as head trauma, strokes, and brain tumors, could induce synesthesia.
The Different Types
Synesthesia comes in various forms, each with unique characteristics. You could be affected by a single form of synesthesia or, though rare, a few different types combined.
Although the phenomenon can occur in almost any combination of senses, some of the other described forms of synesthesia include:
Auditory-tactile synesthesia: Occurs when hearing a sound triggers your body to experience a specific sensation, like pressure, tingling, or temperature fluctuations.
Chromesthesia: Witnessing colors appear in response to certain sounds, such as fireworks.
Grapheme-color synesthesia: The most commonly seen type of synesthesia, where letters and numbers evoke specific colors.
Lexical-gustatory synesthesia: Occurs when spoken and written words elicit different tastes when heard or seen.
Mirror-touch synesthesia: Defined as having the impression that you are physically feeling something after seeing someone else go through the same experience.
Diagnosis and Management
There is no formal diagnosis or therapy for synesthesia. However, some tests can find how much someone associates their senses with one another. Synesthesia tests come in different forms, including visual and auditory ones. A lot of them are designed using a repetitive process. It's easier to rule out the notion that someone is not a true synesthete and is only making up associations when there is consistency throughout several testing sessions. The "Synesthesia Battery" test is one example of a reputable assessment that can determine if you have synesthesia.
Synesthesia is not a mental illness. Many synesthetes favor seeing the world from a distinct perspective than others, viewing the phenomenon as a gift or unique ability. Even so, some synesthetes may feel overwhelmed with these combinations of senses or believe that it keeps them apart from other people. Since the phenomenon is disparate, they could find it challenging to live in a loud and vibrant environment or convey their sensory experiences to others. If your daily life is being affected by synesthesia, it is best to consult a healthcare provider for additional support.
Navigating the Journey Ahead
Synesthetes have a unique ability to perceive the world differently, where their senses collide together. Further research suggests that synesthetes can be more creative and have a stronger recollection of memories. Many synesthetes have been successful in creative professions, such as music, poetry, and art. Some famous names have been open about their experience with synesthesia, including Pharrell Williams, Billie Eilish, and Mary J. Blige, among others.
As researchers continue to discover more about synesthesia, more synesthetes are embracing this unique phenomenon. From literature, internet communities, and articles like this one, these resources can help you make the most of this unique power and elevate your life. By taking small steps, you can unlock your full potential and discover a new way of experiencing the world around you.
Works Cited
Bence, Sarah. “Synesthesia: What It Is, Types, Causes, and Treatment.” Verywell Health, 19 Dec. 2023, www.verywellhealth.com/synesthesia-8405029. Accessed 22 Dec. 2023.
Brang, David, and V. S. Ramachandran. “Survival of the Synesthesia Gene: Why Do People Hear Colors and Taste Words?” PLoS Biology, vol. 9, no. 11, Nov. 2011, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3222625/#pbio.1001205-Simner1. Accessed 19 Dec. 2023.
Cleveland Clinic. “Synesthesia: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms, Types & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic, 3 May 2023, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/24995-synesthesia. Accessed 21 Dec. 2023.
Herman, Laura. “Synesthesia | Psychology | Britannica.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 7 Nov. 2023, www.britannica.com/science/synesthesia. Accessed 20 Dec. 2023.
Psychology Today Staff. “Synesthesia | Psychology Today.” Psychology Today, 2019, www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/synesthesia. Accessed 21 Dec. 2023.
Watson, Kathryn. “Synesthesia: Definition, Examples, Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment.” Healthline, 24 Oct. 2018, www.healthline.com/health/synesthesia. Accessed 19 Dec. 2023. Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board