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Synesthesia

            
             Synesthesia is defined in Webster's dictionary as "The Sensation produced at a point other than or remote from the point of stimulation, as of a color from hearing a certain sound". This is a rather dry description of one of the most interesting topics in neuro-psychology. The ability to experience the feeling of shapes when viewing colors or hearing music is incredible. Dr. Richard Cytowic is possibly the most famous researcher on this topic and this paper will explore his findings as well as try to explain what it truly feels like to have Synesthesia in ones life. .
             Synesthesia is an involuntary physical experience where the stimulation of one sense causes the perception in one or more senses. The experience in one sense would be considered the real perception. When the accompanying senses activate the perceived objects or shapes too seem just as real as the stimulus. The shapes that these people see do not necessarily occur with in the minds eye, but actually out in the viewer's space. Therefore it is not an imagined shape but the hippocampus in the brain is making them visible (Goldstein, 1999).
             Richard Cytowic makes an interesting point. He says that the trend over our course of evolution has been the separation of senses. When one thinks about this we do perceive our senses separately. As humans we rely heavily on vision, everything else becomes secondary. Our senses aren't as attuned as they could be. With Synesthesia Cytowic brings up the possible aspect that people with this might be the next step in our evolutionary process. The combination of two or more senses might be perceived as wrong, but may also be a good thing whereas one would have greater knowledge of feelings and sensations. "Its reality and vividness are what make Synesthesia so interesting in its violation of conventional perception. Synesthesia is also fascinating because logically it should not be a product of the human brain, where the evolutionary trend has been for increasing separation of function anatomically" (Cytowic, 1999, p.


Essays Related to Synesthesia

1. Neuroligical Condition - Synesthesia

... make much sense to you, then there is a pretty good chance that you do not have a puzzling and fascinating neurological condition known as synesthesia. If you are reading this and these scenarios sound like your average Tuesday, then you should probably read this paper carefully because it is ... pink. "The elicited synesthetic experience does not replace the normal experience but instead always adds to it." (Emerson, 2002) Synesthesia has also been referred to as an "everyday Fantasia," referring to the 1940 Disney Movie where orchestral music is accompanied by ... whimsical and surre...

  • Word Count: 1043
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

2. Synaesthesia: A Window into Perception, Thought and Language

... sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway. The word Synesthesia derives from two Greek words, syn (together) and aesthesis (perception). Therefore, in literal terms synesthesia means "joined perception". Synesthesia can involve any of the senses as well as manifest itself in many different ways. There is an ... abundance amount of different types of synaesthesia, but a few common ones consist of the following: - Grapheme- colour synesthesia: These types of synesthetes perceive symbols, I.E. letters and numbers in spe...

  • Word Count: 1308
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

3. The Musical Necessity

... such a fast paced rush that gives the listener an urge to move and dance. Another way that music affects the mind is through a unique sensory occurrence in some individuals called synesthesia where through one sensation in the senses another is affected. It can give this the ability to see colors from certain sounds one hears. It is a phenomenon and is more ... is unique and truly amazing. To be able to experience the feeling of color through listening to a song is incredible. Its was discovered that, "no two people's sets of synesthesia associations are the same" (Lynn C 13). Each pers...

  • Word Count: 2695
  • Approx Pages: 11
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Poets and Poetry

... (Fart,Carter,2005). This can be deduced particularly through the analysis of two stylistic elements: the demonstrative pronoun "this", at the end of the second line, and the synesthesia in lines 4 and 5. Firstly, the pronoun "this" does not clearly refer to either the letter itself or the flower enclosed with. In the first case, a possible interpretation could ... , that is that Dickinson performs her own failure to emulate nature's language. Thus, the given rose becomes the message and the poem at the same time. In fact, through the synesthesia, syllables and sentences are described by ...

  • Word Count: 2619
  • Approx Pages: 10
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

5. Compare And Contrast: Menkaure And Khamerernebty And Akhenaton

... background. The statue reflects light in some prominent areas, but also has some areas which are in shadow. Some areas of gold are seen, probably due to age and environment. 5.) Synesthesia: The couple depicted in this piece of artwork, show no emotion nor do they evoke emotion from the viewer. "The husband and wife show no other sign of affection or ... white, so the actual color is undetermined. Having been damaged over time, shadows are quite prominent in some areas of the statue, especially around the head and under the arm. 5.) Synesthesia: Akhenaton looks superior and arrogant. Hi...

  • Word Count: 1556
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography
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6. Analyzation of a Poem

... his inclusion of detail, putting in the proper amount to enhance the imagery, but not cause the poem to become overly prosy. He even manages to incorporate metaphor, simile, and synesthesia into his poem, which also surprised me due to the low diction and simplistic voice in which it was written. The metaphor comes at the end of the poem, with ... in milk." In the middle of the poem is the simile, in the form of "to scare niggers like crows off a tree." Finally, seven lines into the poem is the synesthesia, where he writes "grinned deliciously." Even more amazing than the numerous types...

  • Word Count: 1024
  • Approx Pages: 4

7. Strengths of a Poem

... his inclusion of detail, putting in the proper amount to enhance the imagery, but not cause the poem to become overly prosy. He even manages to incorporate metaphor, simile, and synesthesia into his poem, which also surprised me due to the low diction and simplistic voice in which it was written. The metaphor comes at the end of the poem, with ... in milk." In the middle of the poem is the simile, in the form of "to scare niggers like crows off a tree." Finally, seven lines into the poem is the synesthesia, where he writes "grinned deliciously." Even more amazing than the numerous types...

  • Word Count: 969
  • Approx Pages: 4

8. Poetry Analysis - Morning Song by Sylvia Plath

... was published in 1965, nearly two years after the author's death by suicide. The poem is chalked full of every metaphor you can possibly imagine. As far as imagery and synesthesia go, Plath threw in everything but the kitchen sink. Upon first read, the metaphorical language is almost overwhelming. It is difficult to discern what contains substance and what is just ... ...

  • Word Count: 1571
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

9. Poetry Review - Journey of the Magi

... running away, and wanting their liquor and women" the combines the auditory and visual senses. Eliot wants his readers to visual image of the immoral men and women by using synesthesia, Eliot produces a vivid understanding of the wise men's journey. Eliot uses figurative language for the readers to experience the spiritual journey of the wise men. There is use of biblical ... ...

  • Word Count: 972
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

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