Synesthesia: A film by Jonathan Fowler

Boing Boing presents a remix of "Synesthesia," a documentary directed by Jonathan Fowler (jonathan-fowler.com) about people whose senses blend, or mix. For instance: a synesthete might see colors when listening to music, or taste flavors when hearing a spoken word.

In this documentary, Dr. David Eagleman of Baylor College of Medicine explains this condition, and four synesthetes explain how they perceive the world.

The full-length version of this film was produced with support from The Research Channel (researchchannel.org), and is available for viewing on their website: http://tinyurl.com/lpluak

CREDITS: Directed & Produced by Jonathan Fowler. Cinematography by Rex Jones & Jonathan Fowler. Music by Moby & Olis.

Special thanks to ResearchChannel and Montana State University.

SPEAKERS:
* David Eagleman, Ph.D., neuroscientist, Baylor College of Medicine
* Marilynn Masten, synesthete
* Julia Cochran, synesthete
* Tiffany Gill, synesthete
* Sean Day, synesthete

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• synesthesia
• neuroscience
• neurology
• psychology
• brain
• science
• jonathan
• fowler
• documentary
• mind

[songbird3rmj]

I have it too! Or at least I think I do... every number and letter (sound) is associated with a certain color... and it has been this way every since I was little. I don't memorize phone numbers with the actual numbers... but with a string of colors lined up. For example, if it were the number "3472"--- "it would be magenta-light orange-purple-sea green".... it also helps me remember names....

[divinati0n]

suddenly everyone on the internet has synesthesia

[IthacaStLondon]

Nope

:-)

[fuxaround]

i hear shapes and colors, like certain colors will have a tone, certain shapes will have their own, moving images have a greater "sounds" but its not like the sound drowns out the world. in fact the only time i notice really is when its quiet. i used to think it was weird, like i had an overactive imagination or something. but knowing that other people have similar experiences is great.

[UpAndLeave]

see, I don't know if I have it or not, but if you say a word, it has colors with colors sprinkled in. Like the word pickle isn't green, it's orange with a yellow and purple zigzag.

[left7yeguina]

Everyone who learns to speak can think in "spoken" words in the mind; so everyone who learns to write can think in "written" words too. Neither of these is synaesthesia; they are both word-THINKING, no matter what pitch the voice nor what colour the letters is our heads. Thinking in words in done in the BRAIN, so someone needs a biology lesson. Synaesthesia is concerned with the SENSORY ORGANS - eyes, ears, nostrils, tongue, skin... 

[left7yeguina]

Suddenly everyone has synesthesia - yes! Because these people are getting it mixed up with ordinary thinking! This is a spoof, right? They're saying people of normal intelligence can't recall numbers and letters from memory - it's not even funny, it's sick. O wish someone would clean up the internet and get idiots like this off it.

[6irlmau5]

That was an example..

[6irlmau5]

Why does it feel so painful when a different synesthete has different perceptions than me? Is it because I can't live life believing the number 1 is yellow, when to me it is red? :/

[xxdarkmonkeylordxx]

It would be if you just wanted it to make you different, not for a special purpose.

[FuzzyWeekendSocks]

3:30 - That's so wierd! For me 2 is the same shade as her 1 and 8 is the same golden yellow as her 4 :o

[cat3162]

Songbird3rmj, yes you definitely have it! I also find it helpful for remembering things.