People With Synesthesia Explain Their Sensory Experience With Numbers, Letters, Music and Words

In an episode of Great Big Story, several synesthetes – people with synesthesia – explain how their brain interprets data such as numbers, letters, words and music along with what they feel when they do so. Several people see numbers in color. A woman described words having specific tastes, another woman sees songs as having specific colors and yet another woman sees pain in shapes. One sense triggers another sense and associations are made.

What is synesthesia? — A neurological phenomenon in which stimulation of one sensory cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second pathway. We talk to several synesthetes and recreate their experiences.

Lori Dorn
Lori Dorn

Lori is a Laughing Squid Contributing Editor based in New York City who has been writing blog posts for over a decade. She also enjoys making jewelry, playing guitar, taking photos and mixing craft cocktails.