The earliest written record of synaesthesia is  widely attributed to a John Locke essay on published in 1690.  So, although the medical profession has been aware of synaesthesia for quite some time, there still as yet doesn't appear to be an official, established method of diagnosing synaesthesia.  Although I do believe work has been going on in the U.S. to at least establish rough guidelines for diagnostic purposes.

The medical profession do appear to agree that synaesthesia is a natural state of being experienced by everyone as an infant, but dies away as we mature.  For whatever reason, some of us have retained these pre-infancy links.  

   Researchers also suggest that the synaesthesia experience is an addition to our basic major senses and doesn't replace or impair any of them.

Many researchers are keen to study synaesthesia because they believe it could tell them more about human consciousness and the way in which we perceive our world.

 

 

 

 

When you hold an orange, you can see the shape and colour, feel the texture and smell its scent. All these sensual perceptions  are brought together by the brain to produce a concept - in this case - a ripe orange.   Synaesthetes have an extra perception that adds to that concept.  As no one really understands exactly how this "bringing together" occurs, synaesthetes with their additional perception are seen as a possible route to a better understanding. 

So, in conclusion.  If you think this part of the sentence looks "wrong"; or you find Tuesday is a fetching shade of blue; or imagine that London tastes of mashed potatoes; or whenever you hear a flute you're treated to a  narcotics-free, gratis light show, .......the chances are you may well be "one of us"!!

James Wannerton  September 2002

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