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Synaesthesia |
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What is synaesthesiaSynaesthesia (also spelled synesthesia) is a truly fascinating condition. In its simplest form it is best described as a “union of the senses” whereby two or more of the five senses that are normally experienced separately are involuntarily and automatically joined together. Some synaesthetes experience colour when they hear sounds or read words. Others experience tastes, smells, shapes or touches in almost any combination. These sensations are automatic and cannot be turned on or off. Synaesthesia isn’t a disease or illness and is not at all harmful. In fact, the vast majority of synaesthetes couldn’t imagine life without it.- From UK Synaesthesia AssociationMy experience I have synaesthesia. No, it isn't a disease. It involves an association of one of the senses with another. Synaesthesia comes in many forms. In my case, when I think of a number, a letter or a word I imagine it coloured. But when I see a number or letter written down I see it as it is - not in my colours. Upper case letters have the same colour as their lower case versions, even though the shape may be quite different. While different individuals usually do not report the same colors for all letters and numbers, studies with large numbers of synesthetes find some commonalities across letters (e.g. A is likely to be red). - From Wikipedia My first memory of this sensation was at school when I was about six years old. When I thought of the spelling of the word cat, in my mind's eye I saw the letter 'c' coloured yellow, the letter 'a' coloured red and the letter 't' coloured cream. In the same way the letters of dog were coloured brown, black, brown. Days of the week and months each have their own colour, usually a combination of the colours of the first few letters of the word. I find it useful remembering phone numbers. These are a combination of the number colours. Complicated you may think but I only have to associate a number colour mix with a name colour mix to aid my memory. All people with this condition have their own personal set of colours. You can find the colours I associate with individual letters or numbers at the end of this article. The trigger for my synaesthesia When I was three or four I had a little pull-along truck filled with cube shaped wooden blocks. Each block had a number on one face, a letter on another, a picture on a third and so on. I couldn't read or count at the time but I have always thought that the colours of my synaesthesia numbers and letters came from the coloured numbers and letters on those blocks. Everyone has synaesthesiaA rather sweeping statement you may think, but read on ...As I said earlier, synaesthesia involves an association of one of the senses with another. What about spoken language Speech, whether speaking or listening, is the association of a sound or sequence of sounds with an object, an action or an idea in a form accepted and understood by users of that spoken language. The ability to use language seems to be an in-built skill in people. What about written language Writing and reading is the association of a shape or sequence of shapes with an object, an action or an idea in a form accepted and understood by users of that written language. In this case it seems that a synaesthesia-like ability can be learnt. What about sign language Signing and understanding signing ... Gestures and language. What about a musical score A written score ... Symbols and sounds. I think I have made my point. Evolutionary advantages of synaesthesiaCommunication, even in its most primitive form, is an enormous survival and evolutionary advantage for any species. The success of humans can be attributed, in no small part, to the ability to be able to communicate complicated messages and ideas, through speech and later through writing. Speech gives us the abililty to help and influence one another both in the present, and in the future by storytelling and passing useful information down the generations. Writing gives us the abililty to do the same in a form less liable to change over time.Synaesthesia in animals Animals don't have language as we understand it but they do communicate. For example, meercats look up when a lookout makes the call for 'bird of prey', and look down when the call is 'snake'. Not only do they understand their own danger signals but also those of other creatures such as monkeys. Again, the advantages for survival are obvious. What about warning colours and patterns, and scent marking. Animals can be taught to perform certain actions when shown certain symbols. I'm sure you can think of other instances of language-like skills in the animal kingdom. My synaesthesia colours
The association of white with 1 and I, and black with 0 and O, could mean that I did not know the meaning of the symbols when I acquired the association, suggesting that my explanation of the trigger for my synaesthesia is correct. Mike Holden - Feb 2015 |
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