Understanding the Phenomenon of Smelling What You See in a Video

Have you ever watched a video of someone in a shower and found yourself certainly can smell the dirty water? Or perhaps you’re hearing someone pooping in a scene and feel the same? These experiences, though unusual and perhaps even alarming, might be more common than you think. This curious sense of smelling what you see is known as synesthesia, a condition where one sense is associated with another sense.

What Is Sensory Synesthesia?

Sensory synesthesia is a neurological condition where stimulation of one sensory pathway leads to involuntary experiences in another sensory pathway. In your case, visual cues from a video can trigger olfactory memories or associations. This means that seeing a video of someone in a shower might trigger the feeling of a familiar smell, even if it’s just the water. Such associations can be very personal and not necessarily shared by everyone.

While it might seem unusual to others, it's important to remember that this is a personal and involuntary experience. Unless it causes distress or significantly interferes with your daily life, it's generally nothing to worry about. It's just a part of the vast variety of human experiences and neurological processes.

Examining the Specific Types of Synesthesia

There are several forms of synesthesia, and the one that manifests through olfactory associations with visual cues is particularly intriguing. Have you ever watched someone lighting a cigarette in a video and suddenly smelled it? This phenomenon is not as uncommon as one might think. It can be explained by associations formed through memories or specific emotional triggers.

For instance, during or after the COVID-19 pandemic, many people reported experiencing a heightened sense of smell. This heightened sensitivity to olfactory stimuli can be triggered by a variety of factors, including stress, anxiety, or simply the process of re-adapting to normal life after a period of heightened sensory awareness due to sanitizers, masks, and other protective measures.

Euphoric Recall: A Powerful Form of Synesthesia

Euphoric recall is a specific form of synesthesia where olfactory experiences are triggered by visual or auditory cues. It can be so powerful that it evokes a sense of smell, taste, touch, or even a desire to engage in the scene being described. However, the exact mechanisms behind this phenomenon are still being researched and understood.

Some people experience this almost subconsciously, as if their brain is relaying smells that they should be smelling at the moment the image or sound is presented. This can be as simple as smelling blueberries after seeing a friend's Facebook post about blueberry muffins or as complex as feeling the subtle smell of peaches at a grocery store entrance.

Conclusion

From sensory synesthesia to euphoric recall, the human brain is a mysterious and fascinating organ. Experiencing smells during visual cues is neither unusual nor a sign of anything wrong. It's simply part of the diverse range of human experiences. If you find this phenomenon interesting or it makes you curious, there's plenty of research and resources available to dive deeper into this fascinating area of neurology.