title: Synaesthesia and sexuality: the influence of synaesthetic perceptions on sexual experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Synaesthesia is a phenomenon in which a certain stimulus induces a concurrent sensory perception; it has an estimated prevalence of 4%. Sexual arousal as an inducer for synaesthetic perceptions is rarely mentioned in the literature but can be found sometimes in case reports about subjective orgasmic experiences.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether synaesthetic perceptions during sexual intercourse have an impact on the sexual experience and the extent of sexual trance compared to non-synaesthetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 19 synaesthetes with sexual forms of synaesthesia (17 female; 2 male) were included as well as corresponding control data of 36 non-synaesthetic subjects (n = 55). Two questionnaires were used to assess relevant aspects of sexual function and dysfunction (a German adaption of the Brief Index of Sexual Functioning, KFSP) as well as the occurrence and extent of sexual trance (German version of the Altered States of Consciousness Questionnaire, OAVAV). Additionally qualitative interviews were conducted in some subjects to further explore the nature of sexual experiences in synaesthetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sexual experience and extent of sexual trance during intercourse.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Synaesthetes depicted significantly better overall sexual function on the KFSP with increased scores for the subscale "sexual appetence" but coevally significant lower subscale scores for "sexual satisfaction." Sexual dysfunction was not detected in this sample. Synaesthetes depicted significantly higher levels of the subscales "oceanic boundlessness" and "visionary restructuralization" than controls using the OAVAV. Qualitative interviews revealed varying synaesthetic perceptions during the different states of arousal. Furthermore, synaesthetes reported an unsatisfactory feeling of isolation caused by the idiosyncratic perceptions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Synaesthetes with sexual forms of synaesthesia seem to experience a deeper state of sexual trance without, however, enhanced satisfaction during sexual intercourse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry, and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Janina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Tillmann H C
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kruger
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Passie
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fehr
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zedler
keywords: OAVAV; oceanic boundlessness; sexual appetence; sexual satisfaction; sexual trance; sexuality; synaesthesia; visionary restructuralization