Dear mdconrad-ga;
You posed an absolutely terrific question and I am happy to research
it for you.
The mental connection that one makes between colors and letters or
words is called SYNESTHESIA. Synesthesia is not a sixth sense but a
unique interpretation (which differs from person to person) that is
driven more by cultural and environmental experiences more than a
psychological phenomenon. For example, what does the word “arancione”
mean to you in terms of color association? In Italy, it probably
brings to mind the color orange, because it is, in fact, and orange
(fruit). At first glance, you might have suggested that the word
brought out a red color because you may have associated the “A” in the
word with an apple, and of course, an apple is red. Having said that,
there is no “chart” or prescribed right or wrong way to associate an
object with a word.
A person who has this relatively unusual capability is called “a
synesthete”. This associative behavior is not abnormal and is probably
more indicative of an acute awareness rather than madness. In the past
of course, people’s sanity was suspect if they disclosed this
“sensation” or awareness and some were even committed out of fear that
they were possessed or disturbed. The association does not stop with
colors and smells either. People have been known to associate colors
with sounds, tastes with colors, differences in light intensity with
certain animals, or colors with certain physical sensations such as a
kiss. Some have even reported the uncanny ability to taste certain
shapes. This “mixing of the senses” as it has becomes known has, in
extremely obsessive/compulsive times, been mistaken for schizophrenia.
Dr. Richard Cytowic, a 1982 Pulitzer Prize nominee and leading
authority on Synesthesia, has authored a number of extremely
interesting papers on this subject and speaks publicly on this issue.
You can check his schedule on the link below for a seminar near you.
In closing, don’t be afraid or ashamed of this association that you
have. Carol Steen, a noted New York artist, says that she first became
aware of the fact that she was an auditory synesthete (mentally
associates sound with non-sound) at age 7 when she mentioned to her
friend that “the letter “A” brought to mind the prettiest pink I have
ever seen”. Needless to say she got a very cold reception and never
spoke of her secret again for fear she would be ostracized. Many years
later she heard Dr. Cytowic being interviewed on National Public Radio
about his new book and she says, “I sat there for 45 minutes and just
cried…I knew I wasn’t alone anymore. She is now the co–founder of the
American Synesthesia Association.
The link provided below will offer you more information that you
probably care to read and each page has a treasure chest of links to
even more information.
It’s been a pleasure researching your question. I hope you find this
information useful. I know I have, for I too have been a life long
synesthete and have wondered the same thing as you.
Now, we both know.
Best regards;
Tutuzdad-ga
Smithsonian Brain Seminars
http://cytowic.net/Smithsonian.htm
SYNESTHESIA
http://www.ad-i.com/viral/what/synes2.html
Cytowic on Synesthesia and the Brain
http://cytowic.net/About%20the%20author.htm
Synesthesia References and Readings
http://web.mit.edu/synesthesia/www/syn_refs.html
PSYCHE JOURNAL
“Is there a normal phase of synaesthesia in development”
by Simon Baron-Cohen
Departments of Experimental Psychology & Psychiatry
University of Cambridge
http://psyche.csse.monash.edu.au/v2/psyche-2-27-baron_cohen.html
PSYCHE JOURNAL
“Synesthesia: Phenomenology And Neuropsychology”
A Review of Current Knowledge
By Richard E. Cytowic
http://psyche.csse.monash.edu.au/v2/psyche-2-10-cytowic.html
“Trends in Colored Letter Synesthesia”
http://web.mit.edu/synesthesia/www/trends.html
American Synesthesia Association
http://www.multimediaplace.com/asa/
://www.google.com/
Search terms: American Synesthesia Association |
