Synesthesia

[dsavi]

Don't know how to start this. Synesthesia is a neurological condition that mixes senses. For example, some people associate numbers and letters with colors (The most common kind), some people can see sounds and music, feelings, numbers (As abstract shapes). Other people can taste words, associate personalities with numbers, letters, words...

 

I'm a synesthete, quite strong at that (I think anyway) but I didn't notice it consciously until I was 13 or 14, although I remember noticing it when I was five or six. I can see sounds and music, smells and tastes, feelings (Although feelings are more color than shape), I associate letters and numbers with colors.

So many people are unaware that this experience is not so uncommon (I don't think so anyway, I've heard it described as a "Rare neurological condition" but I don't think that's true, and I know others have it, like Lenin of these forums) and has a name, so I'd like you to stop and think about these points, and see if you can relate to them:

1. Synesthesia is involuntary and automatic.

2. Synesthetic perceptions are spatially extended, meaning they often have a sense of "location." For example, synesthetes speak of "looking at" or "going to" a particular place to attend to the experience.

3. Synesthetic percepts are consistent and generic (i.e., simple rather than pictorial).

4. Synesthesia is highly memorable.

5. Synesthesia is laden with affect.

You probably want to read this too (It's too long to quote here IMO): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synesthesia#Various_forms

 

Personally, I think being a synesthete is amazing. My favorite songs are the ones I relate with the strongest and clearest shapes and colors. Thought I could do someone a favor by making them aware of their synesthesia, if there are any around here.

[Flodder450]

I have heard of this before

 

i dont have/experienced it myself AFAIA

[tortilliachp]

using language to describe smell (based on what it originates from) and vision (description of shape, color, texture etc. ) is easily done, and the vocabulary is vast. that's why the synesthesia of sound is so interesting, also collectively in our use of language. when was the last time you described a sound as "round" or "glassy" ? a tone as bland, or the chord as "warm" (here, red etc.) ?

 

it'll be really interesting to see research coming up on how this works as fMRI and other brain imaging techniques let us explore the active mind in the future.

[Saru Inc]

I have it, however I've not been officially diagnosed (I guess because before I took Psych 201 last semester I thought everyone was like this, so I never bothered mentioning it.) I heard some people say they "taste shapes" I kinda have that, not really though.

 

 

Edit:I completely agree with your idea on songs. Also sometimes when I "dance" to music I dance to the colors... And that wierds out my brothers. (Note I mean like mild dancing around the house)

 

 

However, Dsavi, your signature still makes no sense.

[Lenin64]

Just going to repost what I said to you before.

 

I translate pretty much everything into a visual image. I can see sounds, feelings (like heat), etc. Probably why I listen to so much metal; thrash solos look pretty awesome. Lots of movement. People's voices also look different, obviously. I've also got visual maps for days of the week, the months, even a number line of years and a seperate map for regular numbers and another for letters.

 

Incidentally, dance/pop music does have a fairly interesting look to it, and I can even pick up some places where the autotune is clear as day that my friends can't really tell simply because I can see it.

[Sam]

I can easily visualize music, although I'm not sure about the other types of it.

[toast647]

[The Dark Lord]

When I type on my keyboard (without making a click) or tap my finger against something, I can "hear" the sound. The same happens when I watch a clock hand move from a distance (not the kind that make loud clicking noises) as well. It seems weird, but I think it has more to do with sensing the vibrations and my mind attaching a sound to the clock hand when it moves.

 

I doubt it's synesthesia, though.

 

I translate pretty much everything into a visual image. I can see sounds, feelings (like heat), etc.

 

Everyone can see heat... Just look at a sidewalk on a hot, sunny afternoon. The heat waves cause the image to warp.

[Ss_J9_Goten]

You can hear sound? That's amazing.

[Omar]

Everyone can see heat... Just look at a sidewalk on a hot, sunny afternoon. The heat waves cause the image to warp.

 

I think he means perceiving red when it's hot, and blue when it's cold. If it happens to be those two particular colors, then that makes it very interesting, because there's no reason for the brain to inherently associate those two colors with those two temperatures (it's not even the way it works in nature, the hottest stars are blue). That would mean that the association between color and temperature is learned, not intrinsic.

 

inb4 this is a useless post because those aren't the right colors or visuals

[The Dark Lord]

You can hear sound? That's amazing.

 

LMAO I just realized how dumb my post sounded.

 

Basically, I can hear a clock tick, even if it's silent. I have to watch the clock, though. I think it's just because my mind places a sound with it or something.

 

If I gently tap my finger on something (without making a sound), I can "hear" it. I think that mostly has to do with vibrations, though.

[Omar]

You can hear sound? That's amazing.

 

LMAO I just realized how dumb my post sounded.

 

Basically, I can hear a clock tick, even if it's silent. I have to watch the clock, though. I think it's just because my mind places a sound with it or something.

 

If I gently tap my finger on something (without making a sound), I can "hear" it. I think that mostly has to do with vibrations, though.

Is it automatic?

[The Dark Lord]

You can hear sound? That's amazing.

 

LMAO I just realized how dumb my post sounded.

 

Basically, I can hear a clock tick, even if it's silent. I have to watch the clock, though. I think it's just because my mind places a sound with it or something.

 

If I gently tap my finger on something (without making a sound), I can "hear" it. I think that mostly has to do with vibrations, though.

Is it automatic?

 

Well, yeah.

[Omar]

Well if whenever you see a clock it starts ticking in your head, then I suppose it's synesthesia. I'm not sure, but I'm even less sure of how you haven't gone crazy :P.

[The Dark Lord]

Well if whenever you see a clock it starts ticking in your head, then I suppose it's synesthesia. I'm not sure, but I'm even less sure of how you haven't gone crazy :P.

 

It's not like it's loud. I don't know how to explain it, but yeah.

 

Although, I have very good hearing, so I can sometimes hear my watch tick when the room's silent. That can be annoying.

[dsavi]

I have it, however I've not been officially diagnosed (I guess because before I took Psych 201 last semester I thought everyone was like this, so I never bothered mentioning it.) I heard some people say they "taste shapes" I kinda have that, not really though.

As synesthesia-induced experiences are "neutral, or even pleasant" according to the Wikipedia article (I quote it because I really only think of them as pleasant) I don't know if you're really "diagnosed" with it. I've never heard of it being in any way disturbing.

However, Dsavi, your signature still makes no sense.

:lol: Want to hear the story behind it? (Not actually an epic saga, but whatever)

I can easily visualize music, although I'm not sure about the other types of it.

Can you visualize it, or do you "see"/perceive it involuntarily?

Everyone can see heat... Just look at a sidewalk on a hot, sunny afternoon. The heat waves cause the image to warp.

I think he means perceiving red when it's hot, and blue when it's cold. If it happens to be those two particular colors, then that makes it very interesting, because there's no reason for the brain to inherently associate those two colors with those two temperatures (it's not even the way it works in nature, the hottest stars are blue). That would mean that the association between color and temperature is learned, not intrinsic.

Not entirely; I perceive heat as an orange-red and cold as a light pastel blue-purple not unlike this scale: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_theory#Warm_vs._cool_colors That part of the article also makes that same point about hot and cool stars, interesting observation.

[Saru Inc]

read me a story dsavi, a story about epic battles, lost loves and ancient lore in the tale of the signature.

 

 

And I I'd have to say I see it (music) more than visualize.

[Romy]

When I type on my keyboard (without making a click) or tap my finger against something, I can "hear" the sound. The same happens when I watch a clock hand move from a distance (not the kind that make loud clicking noises) as well. It seems weird, but I think it has more to do with sensing the vibrations and my mind attaching a sound to the clock hand when it moves.

 

I doubt it's synesthesia, though.

 

I get the exact same thing! I once watched a giant clock from about 250 meters away, and could "hear" it, even though it's silent, even to the ones standing right next to it. I can "hear" silent taps/touches aswell, etc.

[Shiny]

This sounds pretty cool. I have heard of it before, the closest I think I've ever come to it is being able to visualize music. But only with some songs.

 

Nothing like associating numbers and colours to letters and words etc, or any warm thing.

[Omar]

Not entirely; I perceive heat as an orange-red and cold as a light pastel blue-purple not unlike this scale: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_theory#Warm_vs._cool_colors That part of the article also makes that same point about hot and cool stars, interesting observation.

This thread is exciting.

[Edit] When you visually perceive heat, do you see it as superimposed to what your eyes see, or do you see it in a completely different space?

[dsavi]

No, it's more of an "inner feeling", kind of the same way that you know your leg is hurting (As opposed to hurting your leg and thinking your arm is hurt), or when you're hungry.

read me a story dsavi, a story about epic battles, lost loves and ancient lore in the tale of the signature.

'Twas an afternoon in February, and lo and behold! I was bored. I was using Blender to do some strange compositing, and when I went to render it (Using a format that I had never used before), I got this, which, verily, I thought was cool. The screenshots flew and the image was left severely cropped, and I got the signature and avatar you see upon this very day.

[Omar]

No, it's more of an "inner feeling", kind of the same way that you know your leg is hurting (As opposed to hurting your leg and thinking your arm is hurt), or when you're hungry.

If I provided you (and any other sound to visuals kids in the house) with a zip containing short sound files, would you mind describing the shapes and the colors you perceive?

[dsavi]

Sure, I could even make a few attempts at drawing, only problem is I don't have a scanner so crappy pictures taken with my camera will have to do.

[Omar]

Sure, I could even make a few attempts at drawing, only problem is I don't have a scanner so crappy pictures taken with my camera will have to do.

Siiiick. I'll work on it this weekend. I feel like a scientist. :)

[dsavi]

Try out some simple sounds first, like sine waves of different notes. Soft sounds, sharp sounds etc. I would have a real hard time drawing complex sounds, but I can try.