Are You A Synesthete? Types Of Synesthesia Explained!
The human body and mind can do magical wonders. Yes, we aren’t Marvel superheroes yet, but what if we told you that some humans are steadily moving to the next evolutionary step? Yes, you heard that right! Synesthesia is a neurological condition or the ability to see sound or taste its color. In this neurological condition, the stimulus responding areas of the brain are fused. That means the information that is meant to stimulate one of your senses can stimulate several of your senses. People who have synesthesia are usually called synesthetes. That means a person experiences a hyper response to a stimulus or is over-sensitive to a stimulus. It is a rare condition and most synesthetes don’t even realize this involuntary response and assume that everyone else has the same response. Researchers are unsure about how common types of synesthesia are, but it is estimated that about 2 to 4 percent of the global population experiences it.
In this article, we have covered everything you need to know about synesthesia and the types of synesthesia. Read on to know more!
Types of Synesthesia
The word synesthesia is derived from two Greek words, “syn” which means “together” and “aisthesis” which means “sensation”. When combined, the term synesthesia means “to feel sensations together”. It is believed that synesthesia has been present throughout history, but research started in the 18th century.
Ancient Chinese manuscripts have inferences of correlating dates to colors and flavors. Similarly, ancient Persian texts have matched colors to musical notes, for example, around 550 B.C. Pythagoras argued that he could measure musical scales in numbers.
In 370 B.C. Plato propounded that the world and its soul had movements similar to the basic musical notes. Aristotle in 350 B.C. put forth Plato’s argument that the harmony between colors and sounds were the same. Aristotle was even able to describe the corresponding taste of each color.
Thus, various scientists and musicians throughout the ages have attributed colors and tastes to musical notes, including Issac Newton. However, the formal research concerning synesthesia is a scientific inquiry that began in the 19th century. Before that, claims of synesthetes were dismissed as hallucinations of individuals intoxicated with drugs and alcohol.
The breakthrough surrounding synesthesia occurred in the 1980s when neurologists and psychologists like Simon Baron-Cohen, Jeffrey Gray, Larry Blake, and Richard Cytowic led the study of human behaviors through cognition and explored the reality perceptions of synesthetes.
Examples of Synesthesia
If you are a synesthete, you will most likely notice that your sense tend to intertwine and give your perception of the world an alternate dimension. For example, every time you bite into a slice of pizza, you can feel its geometric shape. When you are feeling particularly emotional or vulnerable, synesthesia can be triggered. If you close your eyes, you will see certain colors playing in the field of your vision.
When you read words, you may hear accompanying voices characterizing each sentence with a different identity.
Causes and Symptoms of Synesthesia Types
Synesthetes are usually born with a neurological condition or they may develop it in the earliest stages of their childhood. Research says that it is also possible for synesthesia to be inherited genetically. It is also believed that synesthetes have a high level of interconnectedness between the parts of the brain that are tied to a sensory stimulus.
The abuse of some substances can cause you to experience synesthesia temporarily. That is, the use of psychedelic drugs like LSD, mescaline, psilocybin, etc., can heighten your sensory experiences. Cannabis can have similar effects.
The symptoms of synesthesia usually depend on synesthesia types. Thus, different types of synesthesia have different symptoms. However, most people experience these common symptoms:
- Ability to describe these unusual perceptions to other people quite vividly.
- Sensory triggers are predictable and may cause interplay between senses.
- Involuntary perceptions that may overlap between different senses.
Those who have synesthesia are more likely to be left-handed and have a heavy interest in visual or performing arts like music and art.
Types of Synesthesia
Broadly, two types of synesthesia exist. However, there might be over 50 variations within each sub-category. The most common types of synesthesia are:
1. Projectile Synesthesia
Projectile Synesthesia is one of the most common types of synesthesia. It involves the projection of colors to certain letters, numbers, days of the week, words, etc. That means, on hearing words or sounds, the synesthete individual can see colors corresponding to the word. This happens almost instinctively. Projectile synesthesia can come in many variations. The most common types of synesthesia of the projectile group include Graphene Color Synesthesia, Misophonia, Personification, Chromesthesia, etc.
2. Mirror Touch Synesthesia
Mirror Touch Synesthesia is another one of the most common types of synesthesia. In this case, a person experiences certain sensations on their skin, as they observe something else. For example, If a synthete is observing a pair of people where one taps the other on the shoulder, the synesthete may also experience a similar sensation in the same point of their shoulder.
Treatment for Synesthesia
There is no treatment for the neurological condition of synesthesia as of yet. Most synesthetes enjoy the unique experience of perceiving the world. However, if you are having trouble coping with it, there are online forums for synesthetes where you could meet similar people and talk about your experience.
Or, you can consult a mental health professional who could help you realize the value of your synesthesia. If you can channel your synesthesia well, you can pursue work you are passionate about and excel.
The bottom line is that you can live a normal and fulfilling life with the different types of synesthesia. Lots of famous and successful people have the same experience as you and they are thriving! Some famous synesthetes include Marilyn Monroe, Kanye West, Lorde, Vladimir Nabokov, Pharrel Williams, and many others!
Also Read: 8 Different Types of Synesthesia
Are You A Synesthete? Types Of Synesthesia Explained!
The human body and mind can do magical wonders. Yes, we aren’t Marvel superheroes yet, but what if we told you that some humans are steadily moving to the next evolutionary step? Yes, you heard that right! Synesthesia is a neurological condition or the ability to see sound or taste its color. In this neurological condition, the stimulus responding areas of the brain are fused. That means the information that is meant to stimulate one of your senses can stimulate several of your senses. People who have synesthesia are usually called synesthetes. That means a person experiences a hyper response to a stimulus or is over-sensitive to a stimulus. It is a rare condition and most synesthetes don’t even realize this involuntary response and assume that everyone else has the same response. Researchers are unsure about how common types of synesthesia are, but it is estimated that about 2 to 4 percent of the global population experiences it.
In this article, we have covered everything you need to know about synesthesia and the types of synesthesia. Read on to know more!
Types of Synesthesia
The word synesthesia is derived from two Greek words, “syn” which means “together” and “aisthesis” which means “sensation”. When combined, the term synesthesia means “to feel sensations together”. It is believed that synesthesia has been present throughout history, but research started in the 18th century.
Ancient Chinese manuscripts have inferences of correlating dates to colors and flavors. Similarly, ancient Persian texts have matched colors to musical notes, for example, around 550 B.C. Pythagoras argued that he could measure musical scales in numbers.
In 370 B.C. Plato propounded that the world and its soul had movements similar to the basic musical notes. Aristotle in 350 B.C. put forth Plato’s argument that the harmony between colors and sounds were the same. Aristotle was even able to describe the corresponding taste of each color.
Thus, various scientists and musicians throughout the ages have attributed colors and tastes to musical notes, including Issac Newton. However, the formal research concerning synesthesia is a scientific inquiry that began in the 19th century. Before that, claims of synesthetes were dismissed as hallucinations of individuals intoxicated with drugs and alcohol.
The breakthrough surrounding synesthesia occurred in the 1980s when neurologists and psychologists like Simon Baron-Cohen, Jeffrey Gray, Larry Blake, and Richard Cytowic led the study of human behaviors through cognition and explored the reality perceptions of synesthetes.
Examples of Synesthesia
If you are a synesthete, you will most likely notice that your sense tend to intertwine and give your perception of the world an alternate dimension. For example, every time you bite into a slice of pizza, you can feel its geometric shape. When you are feeling particularly emotional or vulnerable, synesthesia can be triggered. If you close your eyes, you will see certain colors playing in the field of your vision.
When you read words, you may hear accompanying voices characterizing each sentence with a different identity.
Causes and Symptoms of Synesthesia Types
Synesthetes are usually born with a neurological condition or they may develop it in the earliest stages of their childhood. Research says that it is also possible for synesthesia to be inherited genetically. It is also believed that synesthetes have a high level of interconnectedness between the parts of the brain that are tied to a sensory stimulus.
The abuse of some substances can cause you to experience synesthesia temporarily. That is, the use of psychedelic drugs like LSD, mescaline, psilocybin, etc., can heighten your sensory experiences. Cannabis can have similar effects.
The symptoms of synesthesia usually depend on synesthesia types. Thus, different types of synesthesia have different symptoms. However, most people experience these common symptoms:
- Ability to describe these unusual perceptions to other people quite vividly.
- Sensory triggers are predictable and may cause interplay between senses.
- Involuntary perceptions that may overlap between different senses.
Those who have synesthesia are more likely to be left-handed and have a heavy interest in visual or performing arts like music and art.
Types of Synesthesia
Broadly, two types of synesthesia exist. However, there might be over 50 variations within each sub-category. The most common types of synesthesia are:
1. Projectile Synesthesia
Projectile Synesthesia is one of the most common types of synesthesia. It involves the projection of colors to certain letters, numbers, days of the week, words, etc. That means, on hearing words or sounds, the synesthete individual can see colors corresponding to the word. This happens almost instinctively. Projectile synesthesia can come in many variations. The most common types of synesthesia of the projectile group include Graphene Color Synesthesia, Misophonia, Personification, Chromesthesia, etc.
2. Mirror Touch Synesthesia
Mirror Touch Synesthesia is another one of the most common types of synesthesia. In this case, a person experiences certain sensations on their skin, as they observe something else. For example, If a synthete is observing a pair of people where one taps the other on the shoulder, the synesthete may also experience a similar sensation in the same point of their shoulder.
Treatment for Synesthesia
There is no treatment for the neurological condition of synesthesia as of yet. Most synesthetes enjoy the unique experience of perceiving the world. However, if you are having trouble coping with it, there are online forums for synesthetes where you could meet similar people and talk about your experience.
Or, you can consult a mental health professional who could help you realize the value of your synesthesia. If you can channel your synesthesia well, you can pursue work you are passionate about and excel.
The bottom line is that you can live a normal and fulfilling life with the different types of synesthesia. Lots of famous and successful people have the same experience as you and they are thriving! Some famous synesthetes include Marilyn Monroe, Kanye West, Lorde, Vladimir Nabokov, Pharrel Williams, and many others!
Also Read: 8 Different Types of Synesthesia