title: Executive functions in synesthesia.
abstract: In grapheme-color synesthesia, a number or letter can evoke two different and possibly conflicting (real and synesthetic) color sensations at the same time. In this study, we investigate the relationship between synesthesia and executive control functions. First, no general skill differences were obtained between synesthetes and non-synesthetes in classic executive control paradigms. Furthermore, classic executive control effects did not interact with synesthetic behavioral effects. Third, we found support for our hypothesis that inhibition of a synesthetic color takes effort and time. Finally, individual differences analyses showed no relationship between the two skills; performance on a 'normal' Stroop task does not predict performance on a synesthetic Stroop task. Across four studies, the current results consistently show no clear relationship between executive control functions and synesthetic behavioral effects. This raises the question of which mechanisms are at play in synesthetic 'management' during the presence of two conflicting (real and synesthetic) sensations.
authors: Brain and Cognition, Dept. of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. R.Rouw@uva.nl
authors: Romke
authors: R
authors: Rouw
authors: Joram
authors: J
authors: van Driel
authors: Koen
authors: K
authors: Knip
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Richard Ridderinkhof
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003118:Color Perception; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010468:Perceptual Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D057190:Stroop Test; D000080311:Synesthesia