Synaesthesia is a neurological condition that mashes up the senses; it evokes involuntary images when words, numbers, music or what have you, are called to mind. Synaesthesia happens when cognitive pathways in the brain interweave.
When I was a bairn [Old English bearn; related to bearm lap, Old Norse, Old High German barn child: Middle English barn, Indo-European roots bher-], I had this condition more imposingly than I do today, but I can still ‘see’ a colour when I hear or read a person’s name.
I am adamant that ‘Sylvia’ is a rich, dark blue, as is ‘Harry’, though ‘Henry’ is dark green – the same as ‘John’. ‘Deborah’ is a bright golden yellow, whereas ‘Jane’ is bright, clear red while ‘Catherine’ is kind of rich, creamy white. It isn’t how a named individual is perceived; it is purely that the word conjures up a specific colour.
There are more than 60 know types of synaesthesia, and it can be experienced between almost any two – sometimes more – senses. My particular form is auditory–colour synaesthesia, in which an individual’s perception of spoken words is associated with his or her impression of a very particular shade. Other synaesthetes connect specific numbers and letters with colour, while others experience tastes, smells, shapes or touches in various combinations. The majority of those with this involuntary condition find its effects enchanting.
