Picture waking up one day and you're able to see scents—literally. That’s exactly what happens in the Korean drama The Girl Who Sees Smells, where the protagonist, after a traumatic event, gains synesthetic powers that let her envision scents as colourful trails in the air. While this might sound like pure fiction, it’s actually inspired by a real neurological phenomenon called synesthesia, a condition where senses blend together in extraordinary ways. Some might listen to a song and instantly see a swirl of vibrant colours in their mind.

 

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The word itself comes from the Greek roots syn (together) and aesthesia (sensation), meaning "experiencing together." Essentially, when one sense is stimulated, it automatically triggers another without any conscious effort. This could mean seeing colours when you hear sounds or even tasting flavours when you read certain words. Some people even perceive letters and numbers in specific colours, no matter what colour they’re actually written in.

 

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How Common is Synesthesia?

Determining the exact prevalence of synesthesia has been a topic of research and debate. Estimates vary, as a 2020 study in Cognitive Neuropsychology suggests that approximately 4 per cent of the population experiences some form of synesthesia. However, other research indicates it might be as rare as 1 in 2,000 individuals. This variation in estimates underscores the challenges in diagnosing and studying this unique condition.

 

Types of Synesthesia

Synesthesia manifests in various forms, with some of the most common types including:

• Grapheme-Color Synesthesia: Individuals perceive letters or numbers in specific colors. For example, the letter 'A' might always appear red, while 'B' may appear blue to individuals with synesthesia.
• Chromesthesia: For some, sounds, such as musical notes or everyday noises, trigger the visualisation of colours. A particular song might evoke swirling shades of blue and green.
• Lexical-Gustatory Synesthesia: Certain words or sounds elicit specific taste sensations. Hearing the word "apple" might trigger the flavour of apple pie.
• Spatial Sequence Synesthesia: Numbers, dates, or sequences are perceived as occupying specific spatial locations. For instance, months of the year might be visualised in a circular arrangement around the individual.

 

Causes of Synesthesia

The exact causes of synesthesia remain a subject of ongoing research. 

• However, in 2017, a research in Nature cited that synesthesia often runs in families, suggesting a genetic component.
• Some theories propose that synesthesia results from increased connectivity between sensory regions in the brain, leading to cross-activation.
• Others suggest that everyone may be born with these connections, but they typically diminish over time, persisting in those with synesthesia. 

 

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Who Is At Risk of Getting Synesthesia?

Synesthesia isn’t just a random quirk of perception, it's considered a neurodevelopmental condition, meaning it’s often present from birth and shaped by genetic and brain connectivity factors. However, it can also be hit later in life under certain conditions.

• Drug-Induced Synesthesia: Hallucinogenic substances like LSD, psilocybin (magic mushrooms), or mescaline can temporarily trigger synesthetic experiences. Users often report seeing sounds, tasting colours, or feeling textures when hearing music. However, these effects are usually short-lived.
• Anxiety Disorders: A 2021 study in the Frontier in Bioscience suggests a higher prevalence of anxiety in individuals with synesthesia.
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): People with synesthesia may have heightened sensory processing, which could contribute to obsessive thought patterns.
• Autism: Some autistic individuals report heightened sensory perception, which can resemble synesthetic experiences.
• Neuroticism: A personality trait associated with heightened emotional sensitivity, which has been observed more frequently in synesthetes.
• Schizophrenia: While synesthesia itself is not a mental disorder, some overlapping sensory distortions have been observed in people with schizophrenia.

 

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How Is Synesthesia Treated?

First things first: synesthesia is not a disorder, so there’s no official treatment for it. In fact, many people with synesthesia embrace it as a gift rather than something that needs to be fixed. 

• When Synesthesia Becomes Overwhelming: To come out of an overwhelming environment, imagine trying to focus in a room where every sound triggers a burst of colour or every conversation comes with an overwhelming wave of taste or texture. 
• Identify Triggers: To reduce sensory overload, always keep track of which environments or stimuli cause the most intense reactions.
• Practice Sensory Regulation: Manage overstimulation with techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or grounding exercises.
• Create a Comfortable Environment: Noise-canceling headphones, soft lighting, or quiet spaces can help decrease sensory input.
• Seek Professional Guidance: If sensory overload affects daily functioning, a healthcare provider can offer strategies to manage it. 

Book a consultation with a UR.Life therapist. 

 

Synesthesia is a mind-bending phenomenon that questions our standard insight of perception. Whether it’s seeing colours in music, tasting words, or feeling textures in sounds, synesthesia offers a unique way of experiencing the world. While it’s not a disorder and requires no treatment, some individuals may experience sensory overload in certain environments.

As research continues, we may uncover even more about the neurological and genetic factors behind synesthesia, shedding light on how our brains process the world around us.

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