Why does synesthesia happen

One researcher has posited that in non-synesthetes, information in a multisensory area travels back easily to its single-sense area, but in synesthetes it gets a bit mixed up along the way. Taking something like LSD might mean that the subsequent change in neurochemistry causes those existing connections to get confused for a while [source: Carpenter ].

I'll just say it: I'm disappointed to be a non-synesthete. But the more I learned about synesthesia, the less "outside" the phenomena I felt. Most of us have a very traditional, dependable relationship with our senses even though we can't ever be sure that, say, I perceive red like you do, or that pad thai tastes the same to both of us. So synesthesia doesn't just show how senses can cross; it shows that perhaps our senses aren't that reliable, period.

Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe. Life Science. Inside the Mind. How Synesthesia Works. What color are those letters? If you're a non-synesthete, you probably replied "blue. For grapheme-color synesthetes, however, that question may have several very different answers.

Different Forms of Synesthesia As a general rule, synesthesia can occur between just about any combination of senses or cognitive pathways. Sweet Personalities, Sharp Laughter. I'm Sensing Some Confusion So let's say you really want to taste purple or find a way to associate colors with numbers.

The Evolution of Disgust. What's Synesthesia Like? West is one of numerous contemporary artists like Mary J. Related Articles Can I feel pregnant when my wife is? Sources Brang, David and Ramachardran, V.

March 18, March June 24, March 27, Eagleman, David. July 6, April 18, June Cite This! Try Our Crossword Puzzle! What Is the Missing Number? Try Our Sudoku Puzzles!

More Awesome Stuff. Some people experience a phenomenon called "conceptual synesthesia," in which they see abstract concepts, such as units of time or mathematical operations, as shapes projected either internally or into the space around them, according to the APA.

Synesthesia was first studied in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but research on the condition fell by the wayside until the s. Since then, many neuroscientists have studied the condition, and they've proposed several competing theories about its causes, according to an article in the APA's Monitor on Psychology. For example, research by Simon Baron-Cohen, who studies synesthesia at the University of Cambridge, has suggested that synesthesia results from an overabundance of neural connections.

Usually, each of the senses is assigned to separate modules in the brain, with limited cross-communication. In the brains of people with synesthesia, the walls are broken down, and there is more communication among the modules, Baron-Cohen has proposed.

However, Peter Grossenbacher, a psychologist at Naropa University in Colorado, thinks that rather than rearranging the architecture of the brain, synesthesia happens when single-sense areas of the brain get feedback from multisensory areas. Ordinarily, information from multisensory areas returns only to the appropriate single-sense area.

In people with synesthesia, the information get jumbled, Grossenbacher has said. Instead of the online assessment, how about carrying out a simple test for synesthesia at home? You can do the same test when listening to music, highlighting whether notes or instruments have a consistent color in your mind.

Some people see synesthesia as a superpower. For others, it can be a disconcerting and lonely experience. This is not a common neurodivergence, and everyone with it has an individual experience.

Mental health professionals and support groups can help you if synesthesia gets in the way of daily life. Teletherapy offers digital access to therapy and counseling by phone, video chat, text message, or online chat rooms. Looking for an online therapist? We rounded up the top services available to help you find the right one.

Online therapy is a convenient, affordable…. Music is the universal language, but it can also be a universal healing agent. We take a look at how the right sounds can enhance and improve moods. This pillow claims to relieve stress, tension, and anxiety — but does it work? We put it to the test.

Ready to play air guitar with a rake? We've got some pacey, uplifting autumnal vibes you can dig while digging. Health misinformation runs rampant on social media. We debunked 8 popular health myths to give you the real story. Medically reviewed by Heidi Moawad, M. What is synesthesia? Examples Causes Symptoms Treatment Diagnosis and testing Heard of synesthesia, and not sure what it is? Share on Pinterest Illustration by Brittany England.

Examples of synesthesia. What causes synesthesia? Symptoms of synesthesia. Pros Cons You might see awesome colors when you see words or hear music. You might not like those colors.