Synesthesia, anyone?
I was inspired to share about this when I read the section on music, but thought it probably belonged in this forum.
I'll try to explain synesthesia the best I can. The U.S. TV show 60 Minutes did a segment on it some time ago. The areas of the brain that control the five senses are close to each other. In synesthesia, an impluse in, say, the sense of smell jumps to the nearby brain area that controls sight. In a case like that, the person with synesthesia can smell colors, or see smells.
In my case, sometimes--but not all the time--I can see music. I wish I could make it happen all the time. I really enjoy it. When I was younger, there was no way I ever would have told anyone about this. Most likely I would have been given a free, one-way ride to the nearest in-patient psychiatric facility. But when I saw that TV segment, I was relieved to learn that it's a real condition. I still don't talk about it to most people. I've only told two of my closest friends because I knew it would be safe with them.
Does anyone else have this? I'm wondering if it's more common in people on the spectrum. I really love my unique brain!
I first heard about synaesthesia on public TV about 20 years ago when little was known about it then some years later, I read about it in a science magazine. I recognized myself right away. I don't know if I have it to an extreme, but it's there, and it's confusing to my loved ones.
I see music (well sounds in general actually) and feelings (I don't feel feeling, I see them). Thought everybody did that until about 1 year ago.
I'm not sure it's the same thing, but I have this thing with words. Words and language are joy to me. I see words within words. I find out where they came from. I've made up so many entertaining private activities using words. When I speak publically, I see the letters forming the words in my mind. This is very distracting and takes constant effort to overcome.
I've taken a lot of music classes and been in a lot of singing groups. I memorize sheet music super fast and during rehearsal or a performance I can see the sheet music in my mind's eye.
It's a little hard to explain but it all seems very organic to me.
*raises paw* :D Welcome to the club! I also "see" music with colors and shapes, that's how I actually choose my music. Same thing applies to voices, which makes it easier for me to recognize people.