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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by EscherDementian on February 20, 2004, at 9:05:14
Anyone know about *natural* synaesthesia ? Or know of any informational resources, articles, or studies of non-epileptic, non-BP, 'synaesthetes': born with natural, constant and consistant synaesthesia?
My own (admittedly very general) inquiry has turned up _only_ information about subsyndromal epilepsy, manic phases of BP and synaesthesia as an effect of hallucinogens, SSRIs, etc.I'd duplicate myself in triplicate Relativities....in thanks, ;-)
Escher
Posted by terrics on February 23, 2004, at 17:06:52
In reply to Synaesthesia, posted by EscherDementian on February 20, 2004, at 9:05:14
Never heard of it. What is it? Any clue who to ask or where to look? terrics ps I quess if you knew you wouldn't be posting this, right?
Posted by fallsfall on March 8, 2004, at 7:49:46
In reply to Synaesthesia, posted by EscherDementian on February 20, 2004, at 9:05:14
[For Babblers - definition of Synesthesia adapted from the book referenced below:
Synesthesia means 'senses coming together'. The character in the book sees letters and numbers in color, and also sounds in shapes and colors. Imagine that the wires in her brain are crossed, not literally of course. In her case, her visual and hearing sensese are linked. The visual cortex in her brain is activated when her auditory cortex is stimulated. Seeing colored letter and number - lexical synesthesia - is the most common form, followed by colored hearing. Other combinations occur, as well. One woman tastes buttered popcorn every time she hears her husband's voice. There is a man who feels the sensation of objects being placed in his hands when he tastes certain foods.
Synesthesia is not a disease, not even really a problem; it is a "condition". It can make certain things in one's life more difficult, the character has trouble with math and foreign languages (the english word is one color and the foreign translation is a different color).]
Escher,
I work in a library and a woman came in a couple of months ago looking for a Young Adult Fiction book called "A mango-shaped space". She started telling me about Synesthesia. Turns out that she has Synesthesia. It sounded facinating to me, so I had my library order the book. The patron was going to find a copy somewhere else to read, so I don't have a record of who she was (or what other conditions she might have). I'm about halfway through the book (fairly typical YA fiction, but the description of what she sees is intriguing). The book suggests that perhaps Everybody is born with Synesthesia, but most of us lose those neural connections when we are very small.
You might want to check the book out!
Falls.
Posted by noa on March 9, 2004, at 17:43:18
In reply to Re: Synaesthesia » EscherDementian, posted by fallsfall on March 8, 2004, at 7:49:46
I think I also read about it in something that Oliver Sachs wrote, but I don't remember where. Perhaps the New Yorker?
Posted by EscherDementian on March 10, 2004, at 4:13:53
In reply to Re: Synaesthesia » EscherDementian, posted by fallsfall on March 8, 2004, at 7:49:46
Fallsfall, i am _infinitely_ grateful to you for just that much.
i have already emailed my local library.Thank you also for defining synaesthesia as a "condition" and not a disease or even (in my case) a hindrance. (~Other than mistaking sometimes experiences what other's can or can't share ~by accident~ but i have rarely made this innocent mistake in the last 2 decades.)
i can't imagine any other 'conciousness' while expressing myself in my art, but i have lately sometimes come to be overwhelmed. i was diagnosed with ADD, but it is now dawning on me that what i have always called "simultaneous thought" may NOT be this easy diagnosis of ADD, but more truly, something not-so-common?
A few months ago i described my perceptions in detail in a thread on PBabble
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031030/msgs/275610.html
-but am still searching for more info.
Thank you, Thank you for your response,
Escher
Posted by fallsfall on March 10, 2004, at 7:30:04
In reply to Re: Synaesthesia » fallsfall, posted by EscherDementian on March 10, 2004, at 4:13:53
Escher,
What you describe sounds much like what is described in the book. Including the "just seeing things/imaginary" part.
It is always facinating to me to find out how other people's lives are so different from my own. It is so easy to assume that everyone has the same experiences as I do - but the older I get the more I find that this isn't true. There is great diversity in the world - we should celebrate it instead of hiding it (or even worse, "fixing it").
I get the impression that you have never met anyone else with Synesthesia? Now I wish that I had written down the name of my library patron - I would ask her if she would want to contact you!
Posted by EscherDementian on March 11, 2004, at 1:19:22
In reply to Re: Synaesthesia » EscherDementian, posted by fallsfall on March 10, 2004, at 7:30:04
Posted by terrics on March 11, 2004, at 20:40:16
In reply to Re: Synaesthesia, posted by noa on March 9, 2004, at 17:43:18
I read a book by Oliver Sacks describing what is being dicussed here. The title also escapes me, but I think it had the words woman and Hat in it. It would be easy to find in the library and now that we are talking about it I think I will read it again. terrics
Posted by terrics on March 11, 2004, at 20:43:36
In reply to Re: Synaesthesia » fallsfall, posted by EscherDementian on March 10, 2004, at 4:13:53
How does one make those links like you just did for your description? thanks terrics
Posted by fallsfall on March 11, 2004, at 21:16:46
In reply to Re: Synaesthesia » noa, posted by terrics on March 11, 2004, at 20:40:16
"The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat : And Other Clinical Tales"
Is this the book?
Sincerely,
Your local librarian
Posted by gardenergirl on March 11, 2004, at 23:03:59
In reply to Re: Synaesthesia » noa, posted by terrics on March 11, 2004, at 20:40:16
> I read a book by Oliver Sacks describing what is being dicussed here. The title also escapes me, but I think it had the words woman and Hat in it. It would be easy to find in the library and now that we are talking about it I think I will read it again. terrics
"The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat"
Great book! Ugh, I can't stay away!!!!!
gg
Posted by Dr. Bob on March 11, 2004, at 23:53:21
In reply to Re: Synaesthesia » EscherDementian, posted by terrics on March 11, 2004, at 20:43:36
> How does one make those links like you just did for your description?
See:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#links
Bob
Posted by Dinah on March 12, 2004, at 1:36:51
In reply to Re: Synaesthesia, posted by gardenergirl on March 11, 2004, at 23:03:59
Sorry. The Mom in me took over for a sec. :D
Posted by EscherDementian on March 12, 2004, at 5:45:35
In reply to Re: Synaesthesia » terrics, posted by fallsfall on March 11, 2004, at 21:16:46
> "The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat : And Other Clinical Tales"
>
> Is this the book?
>
> Sincerely,
> Your local librarian
>ANOTHER one i shall order thru' my local library!
For those of us out here in the forest with the peacocks and the elves*, isn't email wonderful!?Thanx' terrics. and fallsfall.
Shall i see you on PBbooks about it?Escher
*the forest and peacocks are real. The elves....
Well, they're not hats.
Posted by terrics on March 13, 2004, at 16:08:57
In reply to Re: Synaesthesia » terrics, posted by fallsfall on March 11, 2004, at 21:16:46
Yep that was it. It was a very interesting book. terrics
Posted by terrics on March 13, 2004, at 16:11:56
In reply to Re: making links, posted by Dr. Bob on March 11, 2004, at 23:53:21
This is the end of the thread.
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