Studying Synesthesia

Synesthesia has long been established but is hard to study due to it's wholly subjective effects - it is said to be present in around 4% of the population. Here we have a fascinating talk on the subject of Synesthesia from Richard Cytowic, Professor of Neurology at George Washington University. The effects are varied and often incredible, and mentions of savants come up too, who have extreme skills and awareness - like David Paravicini, an English pianist - more on him here. More from the video... 

For most people, Tuesday is just the name of a weekday. For 1 in 23 people, Tuesday is also brown, tilted to the left, and tastes metallic. Neurologist Richard Cytowic has spent decades studying synesthesia, the phenomenon where one sense involuntarily triggers another. 

Cytowic makes the case that the cross-wiring synesthetes experience is present in every human brain, just quieter. 

Many musical artists have Synesthesia, including Billie Eilish, Pharrell Williams, Billy Joel, Aphex Twin, Charli XCX, Frank Ocean, Stevie Wonder and Duke Ellington. Fascinating stuff - anyone who has taken psychedelics may also have had similar effects while under the influence. 

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