Synaesthesia: the existing state of affairs.
In synaesthesia one type of stimulation evokes the sensation of another, such as when hearing a sound produces photisms--that is, mental percepts of colours. In the past, the idiosyncrasy of this phenomenon, as well as the natural mistrust of scientists towards the subjective, consigned synaesthesia to the periphery of scientific interest. However, the landscape has changed radically in the last two decades. The labour of many researchers, inside as well as outside of cognitive neuroscience, has transformed synaesthesia into a scientific reality whose existence can be demonstrated and studied empirically. The present paper summarizes and reflects on our current knowledge concerning synaesthesia in all its aspects (cognition, behaviour, neurology, genetics, and demographics).
Hochel
Matej
M
Departamento de Psicología Experimental, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain. mhochel@ugr.es
Milán
Emilio G
EG
D001244:Association; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology; D001364:Awareness / Q000502:physiology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology; D003210:Concept Formation / Q000502:physiology; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000502:physiology; D005145:Face; D006801:Humans; D007088:Illusions / Q000502:physiology; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009146:Music; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D010468:Perceptual Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012660:Semantics