Myrsha LazarreSynesthesia: A Fusion of the Senses
May 31st 2008 02:01
Musicians use both the left and right hemispheres of the brain in order to complete their work. As a classical pianist, I can attest to the various intricacies involved with making music. Not only do I have to analyze the notes and various symbols in the score, I have to interpret the message which the composer was trying to convey, balance the ensemble of both my left and right hands, pay attention to the subtleties and nuances of phrasing and dynamics, create an original performance which I can truly call my own, and portray a work of art which influences an audience. The skill sets involved with making music can be applied in virtually every other profession. It requires patience, dedication, the ablitity to focus for a long period of time, the ability to interpret various symbols, effective communication skills, creativity, and much, much more. Playing an instrument whether it is piano, flute, saxophone, violin, etc., is not simply a physical task, but a mental one as well.
If one takes a minute to truly consider the abilities of the mind, it is simply astounding. We are able to process so many bits and pieces of data and information simultaneously. The five senses working in harmony evoke a potpourri of experiences. In some instances, one sensory pathway in the brain automatically and involuntarily stimulates a secondary sensory pathway. This phenomenon is known as synesthesia, which is derived from the ancient Greek meaning, "with sensation."
There are various categories and forms of it including sound-visual, grapheme or word-visual, personification, spatial-numerical, gustatory, and several others. I personally became aware that I had synesthesia when I was 12 years old. I realized that every time I looked at a drawing, painting, or photograph, I heard music playing in my head. In addition, anytime I listened to music I would visualize certain images or colors. Individuals with this kind of synesthesia known as sound-visual will see a certain color after hearing a tone, or hear music while viewing artwork. This happens automatically and is not voluntary, or something which the mind is trained to do.
Likewise, with grapheme, or word-visual synesthesia, which my sister has, individuals will associate colors with a particular letter of the alphabet, or see words in color even if they are printed in black ink. Each letter will always be associated with the same color. For instance, A will always be red, B green, etc.
This neurological phenomenon is inherited genetically, yet scientists are not sure as to what exactly the trigger for it is. People with the condition may not even know that they have it, or that it is unique to them. In my case, I thought everyone could hear paintings, or visualize music until I studied this phenomenon in a psychology course, and read articles about it.
I thought it would be intriguing to share some information about it. There are sites online which provide a simulation of what a person with synesthesia might experience.
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