There is a condition known as ‘Synesthesia’, which is found in approximately 4 percent of the world’s population. Those people who experience this condition, with experience a sort-of overlock of their perceptions. Stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway, will lead to automatic and involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway. People who report a lifelong history of such experiences are known as synesthetes.
An example of this condition can be found for example in a person who will see a number (sight) and as they see this number, they will experience a specific taste in their mouth. The number three might always have a lemon-like taste to it, or the number three might also be always perceived to be any shade of a specific color.
This perceptual phenomenon exists in varying levels in about four percent of the population, and due to the its very nature, this can lead people who live with this condition to be more creative than most.
Vladimir Nabokov, the famous Russian Author, used to see certain letters in specific colors. Musician Tori Amos sees music in various shades of light. In her book Piece by Piece, Tori says, “The song appears as light filament once I’ve cracked it … I’ve never seen a duplicated song structure. I’ve never seen the same light creature in my life. Obviously similar chord progressions follow similar light patterns, but try to imagine the best kaleidoscope ever.”
Pharrel Williams, another well-known musician, describes the advantage that his synesthesia gives him; “It’s the only way that I can identify what something sounds like. I know when something is in key because it either matches the same color or it doesn’t. Or it feels different and it doesn’t feel right.”
Synesthesia can occur between any of our 5 senses. So someone could taste a food and see a texture or color. Another person could touch a texture and hear a specific sound. These aren’t just hallucinations or temporary “glitches” though. Tests have proven that those who experience synesthesia always react in exactly the same way. So if you see the number 7 as a specific shade of pale powder blue then it will be exactly that shade a year later.
The brain is a fascinating thing and it’s amazing how just a slight difference in someone’s brain can make such a profound change to their reality.
