![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
Synaesthesia and Studying
Nov. 15th, 2009 02:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nebulosityDo any of you use your Synaesthesia to study or memorize information? If so, how do you use it? What kind of Synaesthesia helps you study or memorize information? Does your Synaesthesia ever cause you problems in studying or memorization?
I often use my grapheme-color Synaesthesia to memorize vocabulary words or equations. Also, I find that I can use the colors I associate with concepts to sort of emphasize that topic by coloring notecards or my notes using markers of that color.
Unfortunately, sometimes I write down letters in reverse order because of my Synaesthesia, or sometimes I write the wrong letter or number if those two letters or numbers are similar in color.
I often use my grapheme-color Synaesthesia to memorize vocabulary words or equations. Also, I find that I can use the colors I associate with concepts to sort of emphasize that topic by coloring notecards or my notes using markers of that color.
Unfortunately, sometimes I write down letters in reverse order because of my Synaesthesia, or sometimes I write the wrong letter or number if those two letters or numbers are similar in color.
My Synesthesias
Sep. 17th, 2009 02:36 pmdsgoodI was eighteen when I first realized I had synesthesia. (I didn't know the name for it, back then.) I was listening to a jazz record, and was asked if I could see music. I thought about it a moment, and realized that I could.
(There were a lot of things I didn't realize about myself, but that's another story.)
Several years later, someone asked if I saw music when I was high. (This was during the 1960s, when synesthesia was well-known -- but only as a drug effect.) I answered truthfully, "No, only when I'm not high." This weirded him out.
These days, my synesthetic experience of sound is texture rather than color. And it's more kinesthetic and tactile than visual. I'm much more in touch with my body than I used to be, and that's probably the reason for the change.
I've also learned to use kinesthetic/tactile diagrams in my thinking. I believe this started in the 1980s, when I learned to use macros on a CPT word processor.
I also have "ticker tape." When I hear speech, or when I think in words, I see the words written down. Not in front of me, but out of the corners of my eyes. I usually don't pay attention to it.
It's never in the same typeface twice. I was startled when I realized this.
Jump back to when I was around twelve. I saw blind kids walking around, and they were sensing obstacles. I asked one of them. He said that it was as if he felt the obstacles.
I tried it, and after a while I could do it. And it came across as touch.
Some time later, I found out how it works. It's called echolocation. Bats are much better at it than humans, but many humans can do it. Get a clicker toy (they cost 50ยข in the Twin Cities), and try it.
(There were a lot of things I didn't realize about myself, but that's another story.)
Several years later, someone asked if I saw music when I was high. (This was during the 1960s, when synesthesia was well-known -- but only as a drug effect.) I answered truthfully, "No, only when I'm not high." This weirded him out.
These days, my synesthetic experience of sound is texture rather than color. And it's more kinesthetic and tactile than visual. I'm much more in touch with my body than I used to be, and that's probably the reason for the change.
I've also learned to use kinesthetic/tactile diagrams in my thinking. I believe this started in the 1980s, when I learned to use macros on a CPT word processor.
I also have "ticker tape." When I hear speech, or when I think in words, I see the words written down. Not in front of me, but out of the corners of my eyes. I usually don't pay attention to it.
It's never in the same typeface twice. I was startled when I realized this.
Jump back to when I was around twelve. I saw blind kids walking around, and they were sensing obstacles. I asked one of them. He said that it was as if he felt the obstacles.
I tried it, and after a while I could do it. And it came across as touch.
Some time later, I found out how it works. It's called echolocation. Bats are much better at it than humans, but many humans can do it. Get a clicker toy (they cost 50ยข in the Twin Cities), and try it.
Introductory Poll
Aug. 8th, 2009 09:23 pmnebulosityIf you have a moment, please fill out this poll. I'm going to fill it out as well. The results are viewable to all. Discussion and questions are welcome.
Poll #963 Synaestheia Basics
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 12
Which option applies to you?
View Answers
I have synaesthesia
8 (66.7%)
I think I might have synaesthesia
2 (16.7%)
I know someone who has synaesthesia
0 (0.0%)
I have an interest in synaesthesia
2 (16.7%)
If you have (or think you have) synaesthesia, which types do you have? (<-> indicates that sensations can be stimulated in either direction)
View Answers
Grapheme<->Color
6 (54.5%)
Sound<->Color
6 (54.5%)
Personality<->Color
3 (27.3%)
Flavor<->Color
2 (18.2%)
Emotion<->Color
0 (0.0%)
Pain<->Color
0 (0.0%)
Texture<->Color
0 (0.0%)
Smell<->Color
0 (0.0%)
Texture<->Sound
2 (18.2%)
Texture<->Grapheme
0 (0.0%)
Texture<->Emotion
0 (0.0%)
Pain<->Texture
1 (9.1%)
Pain<->Flavor
0 (0.0%)
Pain<->Sound
1 (9.1%)
Emotion<->Smell
1 (9.1%)
Emotion<->Flavor
0 (0.0%)
Flavor<->Sound
0 (0.0%)
Grapheme<->Flavor
0 (0.0%)
Grapheme<->Personality
2 (18.2%)
Lexeme<->Flavor
0 (0.0%)
Phoneme<->Flavor
1 (9.1%)
Other (Specify in a comment)
1 (9.1%)
If you have (or think you have) synaesthesia, how did you consciously discover that you had it (and at what age)?
If you do not have synaesthesia, what about synaesthesia interests you?
Welcome! Topics, etc.
Aug. 8th, 2009 08:31 pmnebulosityHi, I'm nebulosity, and I'm your friendly community administrator. Here is a list of topics that I'd like to see posted in this community. It's not limited to this list; I'm just making a list to hopefully get things started.
If you have synaesthesia, you might post about:
+ Your discovery of having synaesthesia
+ How synaesthesia affects/influences your life
+ A personal story where synaesthesia played either a positive or negative role
+ What you think of your synaesthesia (whether it's helpful or hurtful)
If you think you might have synaesthesia, you could always post:
+ About your experiences that have led you to think you have synaesthesia
If you don't have synaesthesia or know someone who has it, you might post about:
+ What has brought you to being interested in synaesthesia
+ Why you're interested (personal interest, or know someone who has it)
+ Questions for other synaesthetes
Of course, I definitely encourage the posting of:
+ Art that represents your experience with synaesthesia
+ Articles about synaesthesia -- science- or non-science-related -- external or personally written
+ Videos about synaesthesia
+ Images that remind you of synaesthesia or invoke an interesting experience because of your synaethesia
+ Websites about synaesthesia
+ Other synaesthesia-related communities
+ Synasethesia-related icons
Current Rules
+ Please be respectful of everyone's experiences and thoughts
+ If you engage in debate, please be polite
+ If you post more than one video or large picture please use a cut
+ If you're considering asking questions to obtain information for an academic study, send me a private message first. Failure to do so may result in deletion of the entry.
nebulosity, and I'm your friendly community administrator. Here is a list of topics that I'd like to see posted in this community. It's not limited to this list; I'm just making a list to hopefully get things started. If you have synaesthesia, you might post about:
+ Your discovery of having synaesthesia
+ How synaesthesia affects/influences your life
+ A personal story where synaesthesia played either a positive or negative role
+ What you think of your synaesthesia (whether it's helpful or hurtful)
If you think you might have synaesthesia, you could always post:
+ About your experiences that have led you to think you have synaesthesia
If you don't have synaesthesia or know someone who has it, you might post about:
+ What has brought you to being interested in synaesthesia
+ Why you're interested (personal interest, or know someone who has it)
+ Questions for other synaesthetes
Of course, I definitely encourage the posting of:
+ Art that represents your experience with synaesthesia
+ Articles about synaesthesia -- science- or non-science-related -- external or personally written
+ Videos about synaesthesia
+ Images that remind you of synaesthesia or invoke an interesting experience because of your synaethesia
+ Websites about synaesthesia
+ Other synaesthesia-related communities
+ Synasethesia-related icons
Current Rules
+ Please be respectful of everyone's experiences and thoughts
+ If you engage in debate, please be polite
+ If you post more than one video or large picture please use a cut
+ If you're considering asking questions to obtain information for an academic study, send me a private message first. Failure to do so may result in deletion of the entry.
