Do Any Two People with Synesthesia Ever Hear or See Things Alike?
Synesthesia is a fascinating neurological condition where stimulation of one sensory pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in another pathway. For example, some synesthetes might see colors when they hear music, or associate specific tastes with certain words. However, a common misconception is that all synesthetes perceive the same sensory stimuli in the same way. In reality, such experiences can widely vary from person to person, even when similar stimuli are involved.
Variability of Synesthetic Experiences
While there can be certain commonalities, such as certain alphabets or numbers being associated with specific colors, individual synesthetic experiences are often highly personal and can be influenced by unique life experiences, culture, and environment. This variability makes it unlikely for two synesthetes to have exactly the same perceptions, even for similar stimuli. Nevertheless, there are instances where synesthetes may experience similar perceptions.
Research on Synesthetic Experiences
Recent research has shed light on the prevalence and nature of synesthetic experiences. For example, an extensive study conducted by researchers tested 6,588 American synesthetes with grapheme-color synesthesia, a type where letters and numbers are always perceived to have certain colors. The study revealed fascinating insights into the similarities and differences in synesthetic perceptions.
During the study, researchers found that 15% of the synesthetes born between 1975 and 1980, the period when the Fisher-Price alphabet toy was popular, had at least ten of their twenty-six "letter colors" exactly the same as the toy. One synesthete even had 25 out of 26 "letter colors" matching the toy's design! The findings are summarized in a chart, where the matching synesthetes are clearly visible.
Chart of Synesthetic Letter Colors
Fisher-Price Alphabet Toy Influence
Interestingly, the majority of the synesthetes who matched the Fisher-Price alphabet toy perceived "A" as red, similar to the toy. However, most of them associated "Y" with yellow, which is different from the toy's design. This discrepancy highlights how external influences, such as toys or cultural associations, can shape synesthetic perceptions. However, it's important to note that having the toy doesn't necessarily make a person synesthetic; the individual still needs to experience grapheme-color synesthesia naturally.
Grapheme-Color Association Patterns
Researchers also created a chart showing the grapheme colors for all 6,588 participants, including those influenced by the alphabet toy. This chart reveals a significant overlap in perceived colors, such as "A" often being red, "Y" often being yellow, and "X" and "Z" often being black. Additionally, "I" is frequently seen as white or yellow.
The study is detailed in the paper published in PLoS ONE, which can be accessed here. The paper is a gold mine for anyone interested in delving deeper into the nuances of synesthetic perceptions and their influences.
Additional Insights
Ernie Bornheimer, a commentator on the study, suggests a possible reason why "A" is predominantly red among American grapheme-color synesthetes: American children often learn the alphabet with the association that "A is for apple." This cultural association can strongly influence early synesthetic perceptions.
Unfortunately, there is less statistical data available on non-English-speaking synesthetes. Future research would be particularly interesting in exploring whether the same association between the letter "A" and the color red is present in other language communities.
In conclusion, while synesthetic experiences can share commonalities, the vast majority of synesthetes have unique and individual perceptions. This research underscores the importance of understanding the diverse nature of synesthesia and the factors that influence synesthetic associations.