The world is full of mysteries. But it is nothing compared to the mysteries we hide in our own brains. Synesthesia is one such mystery that amuses even the most expert minds. Synesthesia, in simple words, is the blending of senses. And in not so simple words, Synesthesia is a condition in which one sense is simultaneously perceived as if by one or more additional senses such as sight.
It is hard to explain this experience accurately. But it isn’t as rare as we think it is. Actually, I am kind of sure that at least one person reading this article would be a synesthete. About 5% of the total population experience some kind of synesthesia. The experience is unique to every synesthete. The most common form is, however, coloured letters and numbers. In this case, we see a certain colour in response to a particular letter or number. There are also synesthetes who hear sounds in response to smell, who smell in response to touch, or who feels something in response to sight.
Scientists aren’t yet crystal clear as to what lead to this phenomenon. Most believe that the cognitive pathways to certain sensations cross together or pair up to connect these sensations. We don’t have much data to support this view. But theoretically speaking, it is the most probable explanation. Now, does it hurt to be a synesthete, or is it more like a superpower? It is neither. Synesthetes mostly feel like any other normal person, if the condition is congenital. They have always seen colour when hearing a music note, or smelled something when touched, and so on. It doesn’t appear to bother them. Actually, people may not even necessarily realize they are synesthetes before a proper test. Suppose you are blind; how can anybody explain ‘vision’ to you precisely. That is the case with synesthetes too. They have always sensed things differently and that is normal for them. However, there is another type of synesthesia- acquired synesthesia, in which the person develops the condition at a later stage, mostly as a result of a neurological disorder or brain seizure. People with acquired synesthesia might find it hard to cope with the condition at first but then gradually adjust to the experience.
There are a lot of studies and tests running in the background to unravel the mysteries of this phenomenon. It is amazing how much we still don’t know about the thing that sits on our own heads. And it is more amazing that we just read that sentence with that thing that sits on our own heads!
If you really wanna learn what synesthesia feels like, here is a VR video to experience Synesthesia. The video is that of a violinist, Katlyn Hova. Katlyn see colours when she hears musical notes. Tag along with her in this VR video by seeker, to hear her story and witness the colourful world she lives in: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obrBAysVef0&t=137s
