Essay On Synesthesia

Synesthesia is a neurological condition in which one sensory experience is perceived in more than one way by the body. There are numerous forms of synesthesia, all of which involve different combinations of sensory experiences. Grapheme-color synesthesia is the most common form, with 60% of synesthetes possessing this type. In grapheme-color synesthesia, symbols are perceived in different colors. For example, the letter “A” is commonly associated with the color red among synesthetes. A pop-out test can be used to determine grapheme-color synesthesia. In this test, similar looking symbols, such as 2’s and 5’s or q’s and p’s, are scattered amongst each other. A synesthete would be able to separate the two symbols much faster than somebody without synesthesia, because each type of letter or number would be perceived in a different color. Rarer forms of synesthesia include sound-color synesthesia (also known as …show more content…
Scientists are still unclear. Some believe that it is caused by neurons and synapses in the brain that cross over from one sensory system to another. Neurologist Richard Cytowic believes the limbic system, which is primarily in charge of emotional responses, is responsible for synesthesia. More recently however, there has been a debate about whether synesthesia is even a real phenomenon. Proponents believe synesthesia is actually a part of ideasthesia. According to this theory, concurrent sensory elements are not random. The two sensory perceptions are actually due to meanings behind the stimulus. The Bouba vs. Kiki experiment supports this theory by demonstrating that almost all humans seem to ascribe abstract names and meanings to shapes and sounds in consistent ways. In this experiment, participants are shown two shapes: one is a jagged, star-like figure while the other is much rounder and softer. Participants are told to name one shape “Kiki “and the other “Bouba”. 98% of people identify the jagged shape as