Synesthesia- due 11/22
17 views
Skip to first unread message
Mrs Sparrow
Nov 14, 2011, 11:02:09 AM11/14/11
to ap-psych...@googlegroups.com
Reminder: Your post should show thoughtfulness, not simply an ability to summarize. Posts are due by the end of the school day on 11/22 (BEFORE Thanksgiving vacation). Using concepts from BOTH Ch 5 and Ch 6 reflect on synesthesia. Make connections to the following article and the extraordinary abilities of Daniel Tammet using the links below. Feel free to contribute any additional information or examples you have heard of outside of this class.
"Everyday Fantasia" APA
article:
http://www.apa.org/monitor/mar01/synesthesia.aspx
Watch the remainder of "Boy With the Incredible Brain" (Parts 2-5) on youtube (part 1 we watched in class)
khan...@townisp.com
Nov 15, 2011, 4:50:04 PM11/15/11
to AP Psychology P4
On Nov 14, 11:02 am, Mrs Sparrow <erinsparro...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Reminder: Your post should show thoughtfulness, not simply an ability to
> summarize. Posts are due by the end of the school day on 11/22 (BEFORE
> Thanksgiving vacation). Using concepts from BOTH Ch 5 and Ch 6 reflect on *
> Reminder: Your post should show thoughtfulness, not simply an ability to
> summarize. Posts are due by the end of the school day on 11/22 (BEFORE
> synesthesia*. Make connections to the following article and the
> extraordinary abilities of Daniel Tammet using the links below. Feel free
> to contribute any additional information or examples you have heard of
> outside of this class.
>
> "Everyday Fantasia" APA article:
>
> http://www.apa.org/monitor/mar01/synesthesia.aspx
>
> Watch the remainder of "Boy With the Incredible Brain" (Parts 2-5) on
> youtube (part 1 we watched in class)
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGkFLtwL_7I&NR=1
For Daniel Tammet, transduction occurs in very abstract ways from
> to contribute any additional information or examples you have heard of
> outside of this class.
>
> "Everyday Fantasia" APA article:
>
> http://www.apa.org/monitor/mar01/synesthesia.aspx
>
> Watch the remainder of "Boy With the Incredible Brain" (Parts 2-5) on
> youtube (part 1 we watched in class)
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGkFLtwL_7I&NR=1
which we are used to. His sights aren’t just turned into neural
impulses that his brain then interprets. Instead, if he hears a
number like 1, he sees a lot of bright light. Number 6, he associates
with being very small and hard for him to see. Number 9, he says, is
the biggest of all the numbers he is able to associate with sight, and
he even compares the buildings of New York City to a lot of number 9’s
overcrowding him. His retinal receptor cells, also known as his rods
and cones, detect light and distinct hues with specific numbers, and
the optic nerve is the part of his neural system that carries those
impulses from his eye to the brain. When asked to compute numbers,
Daniel Tammet’s visual capture is abnormally elevated, in that his
tendency for vision dominates his other senses. In a way, his
‘superpowers’ could be seen as gestalt psychology, since it has to do
with his integration of pieces of information into a meaningful whole;
which is essentially the definition of his synesthesia. Synesthesia
could be viewed as extrasensory perception, which is perception that
occurs apart from sensory input. As mentioned in the article, Daniel
has conceptual synesthesia, which is when abstract concepts such as
units of time are seen as shapes projected in the space around them.
In the video, that is just how Daniel is shown computing these
ridiculous numbers.
I found it interesting how the article explained synesthetes’ feelings
about their remarkable powers. Most say that if they could get rid of
it, they wouldn’t, because it would be like us losing a sense that
we’ve been used to all of our life. Unlike extrasensory perception
which is extremely controversial, a Baron-Cohen team has found that
synesthetes are consistent in their colors associated with 100
different words, 90% of the time. They also discovered that they had
increased activation in their brains in response to sound, using PET
scans and fMRI scans to determine this and compare it with the lack of
activity in a nonsynesthetes’ brain. Even without having to see the
number 7, synesthetes who were asked to compute 5+2 instinctively saw
the colors/shapes/images associated with the number 7.
Maddy McKinley
Nov 17, 2011, 3:42:18 PM11/17/11
to AP Psychology P4
Daniel Tammet lives in a world full of different sensations. His
condition known as synesthesia allows him to undergo the process of
transduction in a completely different way than a normal human being
because he has a sixth sense. His sensory interaction is also
different than other humans because when he thinks of or hears a
number he connects it to something else. For example the number one is
like a bright flashing light, while the number two sounds like a wave
hitting a rock or a clap of thunder. He says that every number is also
associated with a color. Seeing color is the responsibility of the
rods and cones located in the retina of the eye. The rods detect
black, white and gray colors when there is low lighting and the cones
pick up color when there is more light available. The cones and rods
become activated when he depicts his form of numbers because they all
have a color or texture. His perception of numbers is very different
from our own. The world as we know it is a very different experience
for Daniel Tammet. He was taken to New York City and became nervous
being around the sky scrapers. Daniel's association with the number
nine is that it is very tall and intimidating so he felt like he was
being surrounded by nines. I was astounded by how much information the
brains of people with synesthesia could remember! These people truly
have a unique gift.
The article proved to be interesting because it taught me a lot of
random facts about synesthesia. I learned how two different sections
of the brain seem to be stimulated when a person with synesthesia is
being presented with a certain situation, such as seeing hearing a
number and seeing a color. I also learned that synesthesia is most
common among women. I was surprised to find out that there is a most
common form of synesthesia too. I was not surprised that most people
said they did not want to live without synesthesia because I
personally think it's a really cool extra sense to have.
> synesthesia*. Make connections to the following article and the
condition known as synesthesia allows him to undergo the process of
transduction in a completely different way than a normal human being
because he has a sixth sense. His sensory interaction is also
different than other humans because when he thinks of or hears a
number he connects it to something else. For example the number one is
like a bright flashing light, while the number two sounds like a wave
hitting a rock or a clap of thunder. He says that every number is also
associated with a color. Seeing color is the responsibility of the
rods and cones located in the retina of the eye. The rods detect
black, white and gray colors when there is low lighting and the cones
pick up color when there is more light available. The cones and rods
become activated when he depicts his form of numbers because they all
have a color or texture. His perception of numbers is very different
from our own. The world as we know it is a very different experience
for Daniel Tammet. He was taken to New York City and became nervous
being around the sky scrapers. Daniel's association with the number
nine is that it is very tall and intimidating so he felt like he was
being surrounded by nines. I was astounded by how much information the
brains of people with synesthesia could remember! These people truly
have a unique gift.
The article proved to be interesting because it taught me a lot of
random facts about synesthesia. I learned how two different sections
of the brain seem to be stimulated when a person with synesthesia is
being presented with a certain situation, such as seeing hearing a
number and seeing a color. I also learned that synesthesia is most
common among women. I was surprised to find out that there is a most
common form of synesthesia too. I was not surprised that most people
said they did not want to live without synesthesia because I
personally think it's a really cool extra sense to have.
> Reminder: Your post should show thoughtfulness, not simply an ability to
> summarize. Posts are due by the end of the school day on 11/22 (BEFORE
> Thanksgiving vacation). Using concepts from BOTH Ch 5 and Ch 6 reflect on *
> summarize. Posts are due by the end of the school day on 11/22 (BEFORE
> synesthesia*. Make connections to the following article and the
Alicia Hillsamer
Nov 21, 2011, 3:58:42 PM11/21/11
to AP Psychology P4
Daniel Tammet's senses are extraordinary. His synesthesia causes his
to be different from normal people and undergo transduction in a
completely different way. His perception of the world is different
from ours. It's interesting that in New York City he sees the
buildings as number nines which he finds intimidating. Daniel's vision
tends to dominate his other senses. Daniel's ability to describe what
he sees makes him more interesting than other savants. Most savants
tend to struggle with language and comprehension but they often have
elevated skills in mathematics and memory. Daniel responds to numbers
by saying he sees beautiful shapes and textures. Also his ability to
learn a language in a week is extraordinary. Daniel also says that his
responses come to him simultaneously and are subliminal. Also it seems
as if he is constantly priming which happens often unconsciously. The
feature detectors seem to react strongly when Daniel sees numbers.
Ultimately, Daniel's case is extraordinary and can help provide more
information on how sensations and perceptions work in a human.
The article on synesthesia was interesting. The ability to feel sounds
and see images when you hear numbers is a talent. It could be studied
in parapsychology. Perhaps people with synesthesia have a perceptual
set to only focus on certain things. I wonder if it's possible for
someone with synesthesia to try and process their perceptions and
sensations like a normal person. The article talks about conceptual
synesthesia which is similar to Daniel Tammet's situation. Also
synesthesia is found to be more common among women. It's still
uncertain the origin but as society progresses maybe one day we will
be able to find out the origins because new technology is developing
and we're learning more and more about the brain
everyday.
to be different from normal people and undergo transduction in a
completely different way. His perception of the world is different
from ours. It's interesting that in New York City he sees the
buildings as number nines which he finds intimidating. Daniel's vision
tends to dominate his other senses. Daniel's ability to describe what
he sees makes him more interesting than other savants. Most savants
tend to struggle with language and comprehension but they often have
elevated skills in mathematics and memory. Daniel responds to numbers
by saying he sees beautiful shapes and textures. Also his ability to
learn a language in a week is extraordinary. Daniel also says that his
responses come to him simultaneously and are subliminal. Also it seems
as if he is constantly priming which happens often unconsciously. The
feature detectors seem to react strongly when Daniel sees numbers.
Ultimately, Daniel's case is extraordinary and can help provide more
information on how sensations and perceptions work in a human.
The article on synesthesia was interesting. The ability to feel sounds
and see images when you hear numbers is a talent. It could be studied
in parapsychology. Perhaps people with synesthesia have a perceptual
set to only focus on certain things. I wonder if it's possible for
someone with synesthesia to try and process their perceptions and
sensations like a normal person. The article talks about conceptual
synesthesia which is similar to Daniel Tammet's situation. Also
synesthesia is found to be more common among women. It's still
uncertain the origin but as society progresses maybe one day we will
be able to find out the origins because new technology is developing
and we're learning more and more about the brain
everyday.
Message has been deleted
Kayleigh Gallagher
Nov 21, 2011, 4:17:02 PM11/21/11
to AP Psychology P4
Sensory interaction is seen in every human, like when it's harder
to taste things when you hold your nose; however, the level
of interaction Daniel Tammet experiences in his senses is amazing.
It seems that Daniel's senses undergo transduction
differently. Transduction is the change from one form of energy to
another, so for many this is just the sensory stimulus to a neural
impulse. Daniel sees colors when he hears certain numbers, and
discusses shapes that he associates with certain numbers. As the video
said, it is as if he is doing math and doesn't even know it. His
ability to learn language and do large calculations is not simply
about memorization, but it stems from the images that are created in
his mind that allow him to form answers. This could be considered an
extra sensory perception, for it is perception that goes outside just
the senses. It is a process that goes on in his head and is unrelated
to his envioronment, exccept when his outside stiumli distract him
from his abstract thoughts. This relates to this idea of sensory
adaptation, which explains that when we are repeatedly exposed to a
stimulus a nerve cells fire less rapidly.
This article focused a lot on people with synesthesia's
opinion on their different senses. They view it as normally as we
would touch, which is interesting. Also it explained how synesthesia
often involves something like hearing a word and seeing a color. This
seems like it would be really strange; however, it's really just one
stimulus being processed in two part of the brain. This type of
processing is possible because the brain processes things in so many
separate places, like how there are different places to process
different types of images, or certain places which are specialized to
language. It seems like an interesting way to perceive the world.
> synesthesia*. Make connections to the following article and the
to taste things when you hold your nose; however, the level
of interaction Daniel Tammet experiences in his senses is amazing.
It seems that Daniel's senses undergo transduction
differently. Transduction is the change from one form of energy to
another, so for many this is just the sensory stimulus to a neural
impulse. Daniel sees colors when he hears certain numbers, and
discusses shapes that he associates with certain numbers. As the video
said, it is as if he is doing math and doesn't even know it. His
ability to learn language and do large calculations is not simply
about memorization, but it stems from the images that are created in
his mind that allow him to form answers. This could be considered an
extra sensory perception, for it is perception that goes outside just
the senses. It is a process that goes on in his head and is unrelated
to his envioronment, exccept when his outside stiumli distract him
from his abstract thoughts. This relates to this idea of sensory
adaptation, which explains that when we are repeatedly exposed to a
stimulus a nerve cells fire less rapidly.
This article focused a lot on people with synesthesia's
opinion on their different senses. They view it as normally as we
would touch, which is interesting. Also it explained how synesthesia
often involves something like hearing a word and seeing a color. This
seems like it would be really strange; however, it's really just one
stimulus being processed in two part of the brain. This type of
processing is possible because the brain processes things in so many
separate places, like how there are different places to process
different types of images, or certain places which are specialized to
language. It seems like an interesting way to perceive the world.
> Reminder: Your post should show thoughtfulness, not simply an ability to
> summarize. Posts are due by the end of the school day on 11/22 (BEFORE
> Thanksgiving vacation). Using concepts from BOTH Ch 5 and Ch 6 reflect on *> summarize. Posts are due by the end of the school day on 11/22 (BEFORE
> synesthesia*. Make connections to the following article and the
Kailey Filiere
Nov 21, 2011, 6:44:55 PM11/21/11
to AP Psychology P4
Synesthesia is the process where when feeling the sensation of one
stimulus, another sensation is also triggered.In other words, two
sensations are precieved at one time. In some cases, people with
synesthesia claim that certain numbers are also certain colors, like
the amazing Daniel Tammet. Due to this condition, Daniel's brain is
undergoing parallel processing more frequently than the average brain
would, allowing his brain to do several things at one time. In a
normal brain, we would see a number with no associations to another
color and shape. Daniel's complex imagrey is truly the key to his
enormous memory. Not only does Daniel recal all numbers from 1 to
10,000 and have a specific image for them, but he can also compute
huge math problems in his head and say the digits of pi to thousands
of decimal places.The fact that Daniel has a different shape and color
for each number he remembers amazes me. Could this also mean that he
sees different hues of colors than the average person if each number
is different? Psychologists still are unsure how synesthesia works.
Since Daniel can recieve so much information, I have a theory that his
brain does not go through a similiar pruning process that happens
around puberty, which allows us to forget less meaningful information.
I found it interesting that both Daniel and other individuals form the
article "Everyday Fantasia" were becoming exhausted from the amount of
stimulation they were receieving each day. This made me wonder if
individuals with synesthesia had trouble with selective attention,
where we would normally block out stimuli that we were not intending
to focus on. It is clear that people with synesthesia experience
different ways of transduction than a typical person would. Energy
that is transformed must then be dispersed to the different senses
which may be why people with synesthesia claim to always be tired;
they are converting more energy to different places in the body. Both
the "Everyday Fantasia" article and the "Boy with the Incerdible
Brain" left me awe- struck and more curious than ever about the
unknown aspects of synesthesia.
stimulus, another sensation is also triggered.In other words, two
sensations are precieved at one time. In some cases, people with
synesthesia claim that certain numbers are also certain colors, like
the amazing Daniel Tammet. Due to this condition, Daniel's brain is
undergoing parallel processing more frequently than the average brain
would, allowing his brain to do several things at one time. In a
normal brain, we would see a number with no associations to another
color and shape. Daniel's complex imagrey is truly the key to his
enormous memory. Not only does Daniel recal all numbers from 1 to
10,000 and have a specific image for them, but he can also compute
huge math problems in his head and say the digits of pi to thousands
of decimal places.The fact that Daniel has a different shape and color
for each number he remembers amazes me. Could this also mean that he
sees different hues of colors than the average person if each number
is different? Psychologists still are unsure how synesthesia works.
Since Daniel can recieve so much information, I have a theory that his
brain does not go through a similiar pruning process that happens
around puberty, which allows us to forget less meaningful information.
I found it interesting that both Daniel and other individuals form the
article "Everyday Fantasia" were becoming exhausted from the amount of
stimulation they were receieving each day. This made me wonder if
individuals with synesthesia had trouble with selective attention,
where we would normally block out stimuli that we were not intending
to focus on. It is clear that people with synesthesia experience
different ways of transduction than a typical person would. Energy
that is transformed must then be dispersed to the different senses
which may be why people with synesthesia claim to always be tired;
they are converting more energy to different places in the body. Both
the "Everyday Fantasia" article and the "Boy with the Incerdible
Brain" left me awe- struck and more curious than ever about the
unknown aspects of synesthesia.
Message has been deleted
Shreya Sitaraman
Nov 21, 2011, 7:26:42 PM11/21/11
to AP Psychology P4
Synesthesia is a term for when stimulation of one sensory or cognitive
pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second
sensory or cognitive pathway. As someone who does not have this
condition, I honestly think it would be a nuisance to have. It
probably does not bother the people who have it because they are born
with, but if all of a sudden I began to associate colors with numbers
or letters, I would probably drive myself crazy. Just like when Daniel
Tammet went to New York City (video 2), and felt a little nervous
because he began to see all of the skyscrapers in terms of numbers, I
would probably be nervous all the time. If I saw numbers everywhere, I
wouldn’t be able to really understand or admire what I was actually
looking at. I don’t think I would even want to have Daniel Tammet’s
talents in terms of memory. If my brain really remembered everything
it could, I feel that I wouldn’t appreciate each memory for what it
was worth. I thought it was interesting how the article said that
synesthesia runs in families and could be genetic. It makes me wonder
what the evolutionary significance of this condition could be because
I feel like it would definitely hinder rather than help me. I also
wonder if there is a pattern to the colors that synesthetics perceive
with numbers or letters. For example, if they associate blue with 2
and yellow with 3, do they see 5 as green because green is a
combination of blue and yellow?
pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second
sensory or cognitive pathway. As someone who does not have this
condition, I honestly think it would be a nuisance to have. It
probably does not bother the people who have it because they are born
with, but if all of a sudden I began to associate colors with numbers
or letters, I would probably drive myself crazy. Just like when Daniel
Tammet went to New York City (video 2), and felt a little nervous
because he began to see all of the skyscrapers in terms of numbers, I
would probably be nervous all the time. If I saw numbers everywhere, I
wouldn’t be able to really understand or admire what I was actually
looking at. I don’t think I would even want to have Daniel Tammet’s
talents in terms of memory. If my brain really remembered everything
it could, I feel that I wouldn’t appreciate each memory for what it
was worth. I thought it was interesting how the article said that
synesthesia runs in families and could be genetic. It makes me wonder
what the evolutionary significance of this condition could be because
I feel like it would definitely hinder rather than help me. I also
wonder if there is a pattern to the colors that synesthetics perceive
with numbers or letters. For example, if they associate blue with 2
and yellow with 3, do they see 5 as green because green is a
combination of blue and yellow?
sarah_rook
Nov 21, 2011, 7:40:00 PM11/21/11
to AP Psychology P4
While watching the video on Daniel Tammet I was in complete shock as
to his almost inhuman brain power. This process that normally occurs
in humans is known as transduction. It can be defined as the
conversion of one form of energy into another. In a person whose brain
is not functioning under the unusual circumstances such as Daniel
Tammet's, seeing a number will not spark an arrangement of light and
shapes. In Daniel's it does. Specifically I remember Daniel speaking
about the number nine and how he is almost afraid of the number
because it is associated with large objects. He related the feeling to
when he visited New York City and was crowded and intimidated by all
of the sky scrapers. When presented with a math problem, Daniel is
able to solve it with what looks like little to no effort. While
computing in his head the retinal receptor cells in his eyes receive
information in the form of shapes and colors, which then tell Daniel
what number appears in the answer. These retinal receptors are also
known as rods and cones. Specifically the rods detect black, white and
gray vision, where the cones give light to color sensations. While
Daniel computes the large math problems it is seen that he
demonstrates selective attention on the task. Selective attention is
the focusing of one's conscious awareness on a particular stimulus. In
Daniel's case the stimulus would be the arrangement of colors and
shapes he associates with different numbers. Overall I think that
Daniel posses a great gift, and to this point it seems as if he is
using it to the best of his abilities.
After reading the article I found the different theories to the origin
of Synesthesia very interesting. I have to say that I agree with the
theory that certain connections in the brain are being used in a
different way than the majority of the population. I think the this
theory can be supported by the evidence seen with the use of certain
drugs, producing the same effects as those with Synesthesia. I also
learned that certain people who have Synesthesia wouldn't want to live
without it. I found that very interesting but at the same time this
could be an example of perpetual set because these people are used to
the way they have lived and experienced the world, therefore they
would have a had time imagining the world a different way. In the end,
I learned a lot about Synesthesia, especially not having any
preexisting knowledge on the subject. In time I hope to learn more
about the theories behind the origin of Synesthesia.
to his almost inhuman brain power. This process that normally occurs
in humans is known as transduction. It can be defined as the
conversion of one form of energy into another. In a person whose brain
is not functioning under the unusual circumstances such as Daniel
Tammet's, seeing a number will not spark an arrangement of light and
shapes. In Daniel's it does. Specifically I remember Daniel speaking
about the number nine and how he is almost afraid of the number
because it is associated with large objects. He related the feeling to
when he visited New York City and was crowded and intimidated by all
of the sky scrapers. When presented with a math problem, Daniel is
able to solve it with what looks like little to no effort. While
computing in his head the retinal receptor cells in his eyes receive
information in the form of shapes and colors, which then tell Daniel
what number appears in the answer. These retinal receptors are also
known as rods and cones. Specifically the rods detect black, white and
gray vision, where the cones give light to color sensations. While
Daniel computes the large math problems it is seen that he
demonstrates selective attention on the task. Selective attention is
the focusing of one's conscious awareness on a particular stimulus. In
Daniel's case the stimulus would be the arrangement of colors and
shapes he associates with different numbers. Overall I think that
Daniel posses a great gift, and to this point it seems as if he is
using it to the best of his abilities.
After reading the article I found the different theories to the origin
of Synesthesia very interesting. I have to say that I agree with the
theory that certain connections in the brain are being used in a
different way than the majority of the population. I think the this
theory can be supported by the evidence seen with the use of certain
drugs, producing the same effects as those with Synesthesia. I also
learned that certain people who have Synesthesia wouldn't want to live
without it. I found that very interesting but at the same time this
could be an example of perpetual set because these people are used to
the way they have lived and experienced the world, therefore they
would have a had time imagining the world a different way. In the end,
I learned a lot about Synesthesia, especially not having any
preexisting knowledge on the subject. In time I hope to learn more
about the theories behind the origin of Synesthesia.
Liz Franger
Nov 21, 2011, 7:51:24 PM11/21/11
to AP Psychology P4
Synesthesia can be in many types of forms, like hearing, smelling,
tasting, or feeling pain in color, or seeing numbers in the forms of
shapes and landscapes like Daniel Tammet. The phenomenon is
biological, unlearned, and runs in family lines. In 1987, Baron-Cohen
did a 100 word test, and found out what color each word triggered.
When they repeated it randomly a few weeks later, the results were 90%
accurate, and showed that words and colors can affect each other.
Daniel Tammet proved this his way with numbers and shapes. When he was
tested in California, he made shapes for certain numbers, and when the
same numbers were answers the following day, his shapes were very
similar. It shows that they have an intensified sensory interaction,
when once sense influences another, and that their senses are more
connected than other people's. Grossenbacher believed also that the
information is carried from high-level multisensory areas to single
sensory ones, and it becomes jumbled. This is top down processing
because the perceptions are drawn from experiences (like seeing
scenery for the number pi) and it can be related. The pi test was also
interesting because when Daniel was given the altered pi, he saw a
landscape, but there were pitfalls in places where the number was
wrong. It showed that their was an emotional attachment, in the limbic
system, and he felt happy with pi, but not as good when the number was
altered. Synesthetes' sometimes show visual capture, which is the
tendency for vision to dominate the other senses. For Daniel, the
visual landscapes and shapes of numbers dominate over writing the
calculation out, and that is similar to others who can hear, taste, or
smell color (color is visual). Daniel showed what gestalt
psychologists emphasized, which is that we tend to integrate pieces of
information into meaningful wholes. He would take the 2 numbers he was
multiplying see them as shapes, with a new shape, the answer, fitting
snugly into the middle. All of these examples are more deep
perceptions and actions of the brain, which shows how unique people
with synesthesia are.
tasting, or feeling pain in color, or seeing numbers in the forms of
shapes and landscapes like Daniel Tammet. The phenomenon is
biological, unlearned, and runs in family lines. In 1987, Baron-Cohen
did a 100 word test, and found out what color each word triggered.
When they repeated it randomly a few weeks later, the results were 90%
accurate, and showed that words and colors can affect each other.
Daniel Tammet proved this his way with numbers and shapes. When he was
tested in California, he made shapes for certain numbers, and when the
same numbers were answers the following day, his shapes were very
similar. It shows that they have an intensified sensory interaction,
when once sense influences another, and that their senses are more
connected than other people's. Grossenbacher believed also that the
information is carried from high-level multisensory areas to single
sensory ones, and it becomes jumbled. This is top down processing
because the perceptions are drawn from experiences (like seeing
scenery for the number pi) and it can be related. The pi test was also
interesting because when Daniel was given the altered pi, he saw a
landscape, but there were pitfalls in places where the number was
wrong. It showed that their was an emotional attachment, in the limbic
system, and he felt happy with pi, but not as good when the number was
altered. Synesthetes' sometimes show visual capture, which is the
tendency for vision to dominate the other senses. For Daniel, the
visual landscapes and shapes of numbers dominate over writing the
calculation out, and that is similar to others who can hear, taste, or
smell color (color is visual). Daniel showed what gestalt
psychologists emphasized, which is that we tend to integrate pieces of
information into meaningful wholes. He would take the 2 numbers he was
multiplying see them as shapes, with a new shape, the answer, fitting
snugly into the middle. All of these examples are more deep
perceptions and actions of the brain, which shows how unique people
with synesthesia are.
Spencer Stevens
Nov 21, 2011, 8:55:35 PM11/21/11
to AP Psychology P4
As I watching every video of David Tammet, I was constantly surprised
at how much he could do and remember. His synesthesia gives him the
remarkable ability to see numbers as shapes and images, a feat which
probably would’ve helped me in school. I find it amazing that two
parts of the brain can be linked, such as the sections that process
numbers and those that process vision; that may involve something
going haywire in the transduction process, in which the visual
stimulation from the image or sound of physical numbers instigated a
reaction in the visual part of the brain, allowing David to view
numbers differently than anyone else. Synesthesia also relates to
sensory interaction, such as in the article the man named Sean who
could “taste” colors; here his senses of sight and taste melded and he
was able to perceive each as relating, although most people would find
such a relationship hard to understand. David Tammet has a similar
form of sensory interaction, since he can hear a number and come to
see it as an image (I don’t know if they mentioned this—if he sees a
number, will it still have the same effect?). In his case, it seems
like he has visual capture, meaning his vision dominates his other
senses, since he’s able to perceive the numbers as having shapes
associated. However, his audition also plays an important role in this
process, seeing as he can hear a number and still associate it with
the similar shape and color. His amazing ability also illustrates the
grouping of stimuli in an unusual way; while most people try to
organize things—such as numbers—into clearly organized groups (e.g.
odds and evens), David has literally thousands of groups, each number
holding a different image in his mind; that’s his way of organization.
I found it interesting how Dr. Mike Dixon, in the APA article,
described synesthesia as being a form of top-down processing for
understanding the world. People afflicted with synesthesia can view
the world with their own pre-formulated ideas, rather than coming to
understand the world and create patterns and relationships for
themselves. It’s incredible how some people once viewed synesthesia as
a mental illness, and how studies have been continuing to no avail of
a real origin. It’s certainly an incredible discovery and occurrence,
and the mind never ceases to surprise me.
at how much he could do and remember. His synesthesia gives him the
remarkable ability to see numbers as shapes and images, a feat which
probably would’ve helped me in school. I find it amazing that two
parts of the brain can be linked, such as the sections that process
numbers and those that process vision; that may involve something
going haywire in the transduction process, in which the visual
stimulation from the image or sound of physical numbers instigated a
reaction in the visual part of the brain, allowing David to view
numbers differently than anyone else. Synesthesia also relates to
sensory interaction, such as in the article the man named Sean who
could “taste” colors; here his senses of sight and taste melded and he
was able to perceive each as relating, although most people would find
such a relationship hard to understand. David Tammet has a similar
form of sensory interaction, since he can hear a number and come to
see it as an image (I don’t know if they mentioned this—if he sees a
number, will it still have the same effect?). In his case, it seems
like he has visual capture, meaning his vision dominates his other
senses, since he’s able to perceive the numbers as having shapes
associated. However, his audition also plays an important role in this
process, seeing as he can hear a number and still associate it with
the similar shape and color. His amazing ability also illustrates the
grouping of stimuli in an unusual way; while most people try to
organize things—such as numbers—into clearly organized groups (e.g.
odds and evens), David has literally thousands of groups, each number
holding a different image in his mind; that’s his way of organization.
I found it interesting how Dr. Mike Dixon, in the APA article,
described synesthesia as being a form of top-down processing for
understanding the world. People afflicted with synesthesia can view
the world with their own pre-formulated ideas, rather than coming to
understand the world and create patterns and relationships for
themselves. It’s incredible how some people once viewed synesthesia as
a mental illness, and how studies have been continuing to no avail of
a real origin. It’s certainly an incredible discovery and occurrence,
and the mind never ceases to surprise me.
Livv Sargent
Nov 21, 2011, 9:20:11 PM11/21/11
to AP Psychology P4
When a person suffers from some sort of bodily malfunction, such as a
seizure- usually something negative comes out of it. Like we learned
before, seizures or strokes may cause some sort of paralysis or other
impairments. It is incredible that the seizures that Daniel Tammet
suffered as a child may have actually granted him super human powers,
the ability to see numbers up to ten thousand and basically serve as a
human calculator. We know that all parts of the brain and practically
linked to enable proper functioning and thinking by the brain- but it
is incredible how Tammet’s brain is connected in a way that almost
amplifies all of his senses, mostly vision. The extremity of his
synesthesia is also incredible. The researcher from Cambridge
University also suffers from synesthesia- he only saw colored flames
which are nothing as incredible as Tammet’s visions of moving numbers.
His visions are very concrete compared to the abstract visions
normally seen by those who have synesthesia. It is almost as if he has
the power to tell the future when it comes to a string of future,
precognition- his brain always has the answer to what is going to
appear next. This could be seen when he pronounced the string of
numbers after pi. I also find it interesting that with the superhuman
powers, come the other impairments. Daniel was described to have
social problems, but a better example would be Kim Peek who clearly
had social issues. He also seemed to have a small issue with his
speech. It seems like his brain takes up so much power trying to
maintain his “super powers” that the other parts of the brain are
almost unused, and start to not function as well. This is similar to a
child; if they do not use certain parts of the brain when they are
developing that part of the brain will not develop.
seizure- usually something negative comes out of it. Like we learned
before, seizures or strokes may cause some sort of paralysis or other
impairments. It is incredible that the seizures that Daniel Tammet
suffered as a child may have actually granted him super human powers,
the ability to see numbers up to ten thousand and basically serve as a
human calculator. We know that all parts of the brain and practically
linked to enable proper functioning and thinking by the brain- but it
is incredible how Tammet’s brain is connected in a way that almost
amplifies all of his senses, mostly vision. The extremity of his
synesthesia is also incredible. The researcher from Cambridge
University also suffers from synesthesia- he only saw colored flames
which are nothing as incredible as Tammet’s visions of moving numbers.
His visions are very concrete compared to the abstract visions
normally seen by those who have synesthesia. It is almost as if he has
the power to tell the future when it comes to a string of future,
precognition- his brain always has the answer to what is going to
appear next. This could be seen when he pronounced the string of
numbers after pi. I also find it interesting that with the superhuman
powers, come the other impairments. Daniel was described to have
social problems, but a better example would be Kim Peek who clearly
had social issues. He also seemed to have a small issue with his
speech. It seems like his brain takes up so much power trying to
maintain his “super powers” that the other parts of the brain are
almost unused, and start to not function as well. This is similar to a
child; if they do not use certain parts of the brain when they are
developing that part of the brain will not develop.
Matt Minafo
Nov 21, 2011, 9:44:48 PM11/21/11
to AP Psychology P4
I was very much intrigued by Daniel Tammet’s abilities. He displayed
synesthesia since merely seeing or hearing someone say a number evokes
an emotional response. For example, the number 9 makes him
uncomfortable and frightened. Tammet experienced a landscape that held
the numbers that he wished to manipulate during mathematical
computations. Every number up to 10,000 is associated with a certain
shape. The doctors tested this claim and discovered color constancy.
For example, the number 58 is a yellow starfish shape. Tammet repeated
this shape with the same color on two occasions, which shows that the
object that is familiar to him has a constant color. In another part
of the video, Tammet went to New York City and memorized chess boards
in a park. I believe that he was able to memorize nearly all of it by
his impeccable grouping abilities. He sees it as a continuous board
and recognizes the positions of the similar pieces in different
locations. I also observed that Tammet exemplified visual capture,
since the numbers had a predominantly visual affect on him. He sees
various colors and shapes that correspond to the different numbers.
synesthesia since merely seeing or hearing someone say a number evokes
an emotional response. For example, the number 9 makes him
uncomfortable and frightened. Tammet experienced a landscape that held
the numbers that he wished to manipulate during mathematical
computations. Every number up to 10,000 is associated with a certain
shape. The doctors tested this claim and discovered color constancy.
For example, the number 58 is a yellow starfish shape. Tammet repeated
this shape with the same color on two occasions, which shows that the
object that is familiar to him has a constant color. In another part
of the video, Tammet went to New York City and memorized chess boards
in a park. I believe that he was able to memorize nearly all of it by
his impeccable grouping abilities. He sees it as a continuous board
and recognizes the positions of the similar pieces in different
locations. I also observed that Tammet exemplified visual capture,
since the numbers had a predominantly visual affect on him. He sees
various colors and shapes that correspond to the different numbers.
I found the article also very interesting. I enjoyed the inclusion of
the etymology of the word “synesthesia” which means “to perceive
together” in Greek. The article seemed to tie into the video, since it
explained the condition that Tammet has, “conceptual synesthesia”
which is when people see abstract concepts like numbers as shapes
projected internally or externally. I also found it interesting that 1
in 2000 people are synesthetes and as many as 1 in 300 who have a
variation of it. Another connection that I made to the video had to do
with the theory that the cause of synesthesia rests in the limbic
system. This makes sense because, as we have read, the limbic system
is associated with emotions, which is consistent with the fact that
the number 9 evokes a fearful, overwhelming response in Tammet. The
experiences are not just evoked by the form of the numbers, they are
induced by the concept or meaning of the digits. The article also
backed up my earlier comment on color constancy, since 90% of the time
people made the same associations between words and colors after an
entire year. Lastly, I believe the theory on synesthesia being present
in everyone at a young age and then being pruned out makes sense.
Babies don’t speak, so they would not be able to communicate whether
they did experience this or not; they can’t even remember things
before age 3 and a half. It would also allow babies to organize their
world by connecting most senses to the dominant visual sense. Once
they have a firm grasp on their senses, then I believe the synesthesia
is no longer necessary and stops. I enjoyed this article, and the
video, because they were thought provoking and insightful into the
course’s content.
On Nov 14, 11:02 am, Mrs Sparrow <erinsparro...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Reminder: Your post should show thoughtfulness, not simply an ability to
> summarize. Posts are due by the end of the school day on 11/22 (BEFORE
> Thanksgiving vacation). Using concepts from BOTH Ch 5 and Ch 6 reflect on *
> synesthesia*. Make connections to the following article and the
Chris Akerson
Nov 21, 2011, 9:58:55 PM11/21/11
to AP Psychology P4
Synesthesia is defined as when stimulation of sensory or cognitive
pathwa leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory
or cognitive pathway. In Tammet's specific case he organizes images in
numbers together, associating one with the other. In chapter 5, it
mentions that people will subconciously group things together by
proximity, similarity, continuity, and connectedness, and gives a few
of simple examples of when the normal human brain would do this. For
me, even the simple examples in explanations in the group were
intriguing, but for Tammet to associate images with numbers, this
phenomonon must be exponentially more sophisticated. Images are
literally associated with each specific number, so in theory he would
have an infinite number of image-number groupings in his mind. The
mental capacity to be able to do that truly is truly difficult for me
to comprehend and at first glance is something that I would envy. But
in reality, I think having this type of association seriously hinder a
person's quality of life, happiness and in many cases sanity. Whenever
there was a situation with lots of stimulation such as a concert, or
show or in the case of Daniel Tammet a bunch of New York City
skyscrapers, it would probably cause great confusion and distress to
have this occur all the time. Tammet was nervous because all the
skyscrapers became numbers, which would certainly be overwhelming and
not only ruin an incredible sight, but make it a negative expereience.
Although Tammet may have in some respects one of the most powerful
brains in the world, I believe his synesthesia takes away from many
rewarding aspects of a normal life, and although neurologists and
psychologists can help but feel the need to study this incredible
human being, his privacy should not be invaded and he should be
allowed to attempt to lead a normal life if he so chooses.
pathwa leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory
or cognitive pathway. In Tammet's specific case he organizes images in
numbers together, associating one with the other. In chapter 5, it
mentions that people will subconciously group things together by
proximity, similarity, continuity, and connectedness, and gives a few
of simple examples of when the normal human brain would do this. For
me, even the simple examples in explanations in the group were
intriguing, but for Tammet to associate images with numbers, this
phenomonon must be exponentially more sophisticated. Images are
literally associated with each specific number, so in theory he would
have an infinite number of image-number groupings in his mind. The
mental capacity to be able to do that truly is truly difficult for me
to comprehend and at first glance is something that I would envy. But
in reality, I think having this type of association seriously hinder a
person's quality of life, happiness and in many cases sanity. Whenever
there was a situation with lots of stimulation such as a concert, or
show or in the case of Daniel Tammet a bunch of New York City
skyscrapers, it would probably cause great confusion and distress to
have this occur all the time. Tammet was nervous because all the
skyscrapers became numbers, which would certainly be overwhelming and
not only ruin an incredible sight, but make it a negative expereience.
Although Tammet may have in some respects one of the most powerful
brains in the world, I believe his synesthesia takes away from many
rewarding aspects of a normal life, and although neurologists and
psychologists can help but feel the need to study this incredible
human being, his privacy should not be invaded and he should be
allowed to attempt to lead a normal life if he so chooses.
Ben Vokes
Nov 21, 2011, 10:36:49 PM11/21/11
to AP Psychology P4
The article “Everyday Fantasia,” was most interesting, completely
linking with Daniel Tammet’s case. Synesthesia is a very intense
condition resulting from the setup of one’s brain. This case; however
rare and only fully affecting two thousand individuals, has been
receiving a lot of increasing publicity in the world of neuroscience
and psychology.
David can do intense mathematical calculations by seeing the answers
in a collective landscape. Other cases such as David’s include tasting
shapes, feeling sounds or even seeing them as hues. This could be
thought of as extreme sensory interaction, more specifically visual
capture, allowing vision to override all other senses. PET scans
provide an accurate theory that the limbic system or sensory areas of
the brain are more to be at blame here, especially for the increased
activity in visual areas.
Synesthesia could be a result of two possible reasons. One, that
there are too many neural connections and an increased connectivity
between neural pathways that results in the mixing of communications;
and two, inhibition of neural interconnections becomes problematic in
which the senses collide together.
It was interesting to know that David is seeing numbers which
triggers colors sometimes or not at all. For example, while five plus
two equals seven, David sees a color that is associated with seven. It
is also interesting to see that concentration affects some part of his
abilities to produce these numerous numbers. While being tested for
legitimacy, David slowed down a couple times while under attentive
pressure, focusing more on the amount of time left than the numbers he
saw. If he can focus more on something other than the numbers, then he
does have control of selective attention over his condition. Some
cases have proven to overwhelm an individual and completely tire them
out with an overload of colors and numbers, yet David has a decent
attentional switch much like the average individual.
This brings about the question, how many conditions connect to the
creation of savant characteristics such as the Rain Man or David
himself? Does autism relate to some cases such as the Rain Man’s; are
there others? It was also mentioned that drug users using
hallucinogenic drugs experience synesthesia momentarily; however, my
question is would individuals with this consistent condition
experience a more intense form of their own experience? I would think
so, however will most likely not be as surprised by the effects. Since
visual perception is bottom-up processing, his condition defies is
opposite; interfering with the process and pathways during and right
after transduction. The fact that synesthesia still has many
unexplained things about it makes it that much more interesting to
pursue its hidden truths.
linking with Daniel Tammet’s case. Synesthesia is a very intense
condition resulting from the setup of one’s brain. This case; however
rare and only fully affecting two thousand individuals, has been
receiving a lot of increasing publicity in the world of neuroscience
and psychology.
David can do intense mathematical calculations by seeing the answers
in a collective landscape. Other cases such as David’s include tasting
shapes, feeling sounds or even seeing them as hues. This could be
thought of as extreme sensory interaction, more specifically visual
capture, allowing vision to override all other senses. PET scans
provide an accurate theory that the limbic system or sensory areas of
the brain are more to be at blame here, especially for the increased
activity in visual areas.
Synesthesia could be a result of two possible reasons. One, that
there are too many neural connections and an increased connectivity
between neural pathways that results in the mixing of communications;
and two, inhibition of neural interconnections becomes problematic in
which the senses collide together.
It was interesting to know that David is seeing numbers which
triggers colors sometimes or not at all. For example, while five plus
two equals seven, David sees a color that is associated with seven. It
is also interesting to see that concentration affects some part of his
abilities to produce these numerous numbers. While being tested for
legitimacy, David slowed down a couple times while under attentive
pressure, focusing more on the amount of time left than the numbers he
saw. If he can focus more on something other than the numbers, then he
does have control of selective attention over his condition. Some
cases have proven to overwhelm an individual and completely tire them
out with an overload of colors and numbers, yet David has a decent
attentional switch much like the average individual.
This brings about the question, how many conditions connect to the
creation of savant characteristics such as the Rain Man or David
himself? Does autism relate to some cases such as the Rain Man’s; are
there others? It was also mentioned that drug users using
hallucinogenic drugs experience synesthesia momentarily; however, my
question is would individuals with this consistent condition
experience a more intense form of their own experience? I would think
so, however will most likely not be as surprised by the effects. Since
visual perception is bottom-up processing, his condition defies is
opposite; interfering with the process and pathways during and right
after transduction. The fact that synesthesia still has many
unexplained things about it makes it that much more interesting to
pursue its hidden truths.
Julie O'Connor
Nov 21, 2011, 10:48:36 PM11/21/11
to AP Psychology P4
I have never read a story quite like Daniel Tammet’s. Daniel is a
“synthesthete,” as the article states, about one in two thousand
people. Synthesia is a condition where one type of stimulation evokes
the sensation of another and could be categorized as a type of
extrasensory perception occurring apart from sensory input. Daniel
possesses conceptual synesthesia in that he sees units of time and
mathematical operations as shapes and bright images. His vision is
superior to his other senses (visual capture). Daniel is capable of
calculating complex math problems within minutes, as one video shows
him computing thirty-seven to the power of four. When picturing the
number 1, Daniel sees a bright light, while the number nine is
perceived as tall and intimidating. These images accompany his sensory
transduction, a process of transforming stimulus energies into neural
messagesthe brain then interprets. Baron-Cohen and his team believe
synesthesia results from a “genetically driven overabundance of neural
connections in the brain.” In Daniel’s case, his brain engages in far
greater lengths of parallel processing than a typical brain.
In addition to seeing these images, Daniel experiences warm reactions
when he works with numbers he particularly admires, such as pi. His
emotions exemplify the concept of sensory interactions, one sense
influencing another, as sensory interaction relates to synthesia. I
personally feel Daniel should be grateful for this condition though
many synesthetes fear being teased, possibly stemming from synthesia‘s
history being a mental illness. It was intriguing how the APA article
describes that many synesthetes would not choose to get rid of their
conditions and would feel lost without it, similar to how others would
feel without the major senses-- vision and hearing. Synthesia is a
unique, fascinating condition which I am curious to learn moer about.
“synthesthete,” as the article states, about one in two thousand
people. Synthesia is a condition where one type of stimulation evokes
the sensation of another and could be categorized as a type of
extrasensory perception occurring apart from sensory input. Daniel
possesses conceptual synesthesia in that he sees units of time and
mathematical operations as shapes and bright images. His vision is
superior to his other senses (visual capture). Daniel is capable of
calculating complex math problems within minutes, as one video shows
him computing thirty-seven to the power of four. When picturing the
number 1, Daniel sees a bright light, while the number nine is
perceived as tall and intimidating. These images accompany his sensory
transduction, a process of transforming stimulus energies into neural
messagesthe brain then interprets. Baron-Cohen and his team believe
synesthesia results from a “genetically driven overabundance of neural
connections in the brain.” In Daniel’s case, his brain engages in far
greater lengths of parallel processing than a typical brain.
In addition to seeing these images, Daniel experiences warm reactions
when he works with numbers he particularly admires, such as pi. His
emotions exemplify the concept of sensory interactions, one sense
influencing another, as sensory interaction relates to synthesia. I
personally feel Daniel should be grateful for this condition though
many synesthetes fear being teased, possibly stemming from synthesia‘s
history being a mental illness. It was intriguing how the APA article
describes that many synesthetes would not choose to get rid of their
conditions and would feel lost without it, similar to how others would
feel without the major senses-- vision and hearing. Synthesia is a
unique, fascinating condition which I am curious to learn moer about.
Julie Nergararian
Nov 22, 2011, 12:14:29 AM11/22/11
to AP Psychology P4
When we began watching the video about Daniel Tammet in class, I was
in complete disbelief that a person can have such a different brain
power than anything I had ever heard of previously. Daniel experiences
perception quite differently than the typical person, as his senses
undergo more interaction with each other. While some foods may not
seem appetizing to us because of their smell, a result of sensory
interaction, Daniel is able to see varying colors, sizes, and lights
when he sees numbers, from 0-10,000. The colors that he sees, like the
colors we see, are enabled by the workings of rods and cones in the
eyes. Rods are responsible for seeing images in dim light while cones
are responsible for noticing color and detail when enough light is
present. Not only is Daniel's seeing of colors a remarkable sensory
experience, that's an example of his fantastic memory! Although human
brains commonly use parallel processing, Daniel seems to be juggling
far more tasks at the same time than a typical person, as his brain
his adding other sensory experiences, like color and texture, to basic
numbers. According to the article, 1/2000 people have synesthesia,
which is far more than I had expected. I am amazed by how he could sit
for hours and recite the digits of pi. Daniel Tammet is certainly an
interesting individual, and I wonder how many people with synesthesia
are very similar to him. The article says that most synesthesetes
don't see visions outside of the body - I'm not sure which category
Daniel would fall into, but I think most of it is just in his mind.
in complete disbelief that a person can have such a different brain
power than anything I had ever heard of previously. Daniel experiences
perception quite differently than the typical person, as his senses
undergo more interaction with each other. While some foods may not
seem appetizing to us because of their smell, a result of sensory
interaction, Daniel is able to see varying colors, sizes, and lights
when he sees numbers, from 0-10,000. The colors that he sees, like the
colors we see, are enabled by the workings of rods and cones in the
eyes. Rods are responsible for seeing images in dim light while cones
are responsible for noticing color and detail when enough light is
present. Not only is Daniel's seeing of colors a remarkable sensory
experience, that's an example of his fantastic memory! Although human
brains commonly use parallel processing, Daniel seems to be juggling
far more tasks at the same time than a typical person, as his brain
his adding other sensory experiences, like color and texture, to basic
numbers. According to the article, 1/2000 people have synesthesia,
which is far more than I had expected. I am amazed by how he could sit
for hours and recite the digits of pi. Daniel Tammet is certainly an
interesting individual, and I wonder how many people with synesthesia
are very similar to him. The article says that most synesthesetes
don't see visions outside of the body - I'm not sure which category
Daniel would fall into, but I think most of it is just in his mind.
On Nov 14, 11:02 am, Mrs Sparrow <erinsparro...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Reminder: Your post should show thoughtfulness, not simply an ability to
> summarize. Posts are due by the end of the school day on 11/22 (BEFORE
> Thanksgiving vacation). Using concepts from BOTH Ch 5 and Ch 6 reflect on *
> synesthesia*. Make connections to the following article and the
Julie Hamilton
Nov 22, 2011, 12:22:13 AM11/22/11
to AP Psychology P4
Daniel Tamment has an extraordinary sensory condition called
synesthesia. The process of transduction happens differently for him
than others. Transduction is the transformation of stimuli into
impulses for the brain to read. Daniel is abnormal because when he
hears the number 1, he sees a bright flash of light. Also with the
number 6, he describes it as very small. Whereas the number nine he
sees as the biggest. He even compares it to the huge buildings in New
York City. Daniels retinal receptor cells don’t function as ours do.
His rods and cones perceive light and certain hues with numbers. The
article “Everyday fantasia: The world of synesthesia” discussed
conceptual synesthesia. Daniel has this form because he can easily do
math problems in him head. He states that he can see the numbers
visually, as if they were written. The most common form, colored
hearing is when colors are seen when associated with sounds. It is
seen just outside of the body. The article also talked about how
people with synesthesia wouldn’t give it up if they were able to. This
surprised me because it also discussed how some people hide their
synesthesia because they feel abnormal and atypical. Yet they wouldn’t
give up their six sense because they would feel as if they were
missing a sense. I think it’s really interesting that psychologists
are still learning about this condition and I can’t wait for new
discoveries to be made.
Rachel Kositsky
Nov 22, 2011, 12:23:10 AM11/22/11
to AP Psychology P4
Synesthesia is when one sort of sensation (e.g. hearing sound)
produces another (e.g. seeing color). It is akin to sensory
interaction, but goes above and beyond normal interactions such as
those between taste and smell or vision and kinesthesis. The eye-
opening article on synesthesia provides more examples: sound and
touch, taste and vision, or sound and vision. These different
perspectives were very informative and helpful in understanding what
synesthesia is and how it could occur. Grossenbacher has developed a
theory that the difference is in perception, or how we perceive and
interpret objects. When following top-down processing, information is
usually routed back to the specific areas of the brain they were
called from. However, Grossenburger suggests that the connections get
switched up and produce synesthesia. For example, in Daniel Tammet’s
case the area of his brain that processes numbers is thought to be
atypically connected to the area concerning shapes and textures,
producing “landscapes” which he sees whenever he perceives numbers.
This explanation might be valid as some savants got their supernatural
calculating power from their body, sometimes after an injury to the
brain, such as a ball to the head or seizures when in infancy. The
trauma might rewire some connections, and in rare cases, produce
additional abilities.
Synesthesia is incredibly interesting. I have heard of this phenomenon
before, but never in such detail as it was presented in the
documentary and article. I wonder if, in addition to having dual
sensory stimulation, synesthetes also have enhanced senses (lower
absolute thresholds), such as blind people have extremely acute
hearing. However, I do not think this happens; they are not deprived
of a sense, they have one “added on” instead. This ability can produce
fantastic results, such as Daniel Tammat’s unconscious memorization
and calculation abilities based on the synesthetic properties of
numbers for him. It always fascinates me to hear of a particular
synesthetic trait, as I try to relate to it and imagine it myself.
However, my perception of numbers differs from Daniel’s; instead of
seeing landscapes, I sometimes think of numbers of having differing
human personalities, and definite genders and traits. Therefore the
study of synesthesia has a personal relevance as well, making it all
the more important for me.
produces another (e.g. seeing color). It is akin to sensory
interaction, but goes above and beyond normal interactions such as
those between taste and smell or vision and kinesthesis. The eye-
opening article on synesthesia provides more examples: sound and
touch, taste and vision, or sound and vision. These different
perspectives were very informative and helpful in understanding what
synesthesia is and how it could occur. Grossenbacher has developed a
theory that the difference is in perception, or how we perceive and
interpret objects. When following top-down processing, information is
usually routed back to the specific areas of the brain they were
called from. However, Grossenburger suggests that the connections get
switched up and produce synesthesia. For example, in Daniel Tammet’s
case the area of his brain that processes numbers is thought to be
atypically connected to the area concerning shapes and textures,
producing “landscapes” which he sees whenever he perceives numbers.
This explanation might be valid as some savants got their supernatural
calculating power from their body, sometimes after an injury to the
brain, such as a ball to the head or seizures when in infancy. The
trauma might rewire some connections, and in rare cases, produce
additional abilities.
Synesthesia is incredibly interesting. I have heard of this phenomenon
before, but never in such detail as it was presented in the
documentary and article. I wonder if, in addition to having dual
sensory stimulation, synesthetes also have enhanced senses (lower
absolute thresholds), such as blind people have extremely acute
hearing. However, I do not think this happens; they are not deprived
of a sense, they have one “added on” instead. This ability can produce
fantastic results, such as Daniel Tammat’s unconscious memorization
and calculation abilities based on the synesthetic properties of
numbers for him. It always fascinates me to hear of a particular
synesthetic trait, as I try to relate to it and imagine it myself.
However, my perception of numbers differs from Daniel’s; instead of
seeing landscapes, I sometimes think of numbers of having differing
human personalities, and definite genders and traits. Therefore the
study of synesthesia has a personal relevance as well, making it all
the more important for me.
On Nov 14, 11:02 am, Mrs Sparrow <erinsparro...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Reminder: Your post should show thoughtfulness, not simply an ability to
> summarize. Posts are due by the end of the school day on 11/22 (BEFORE
> Thanksgiving vacation). Using concepts from BOTH Ch 5 and Ch 6 reflect on *
> synesthesia*. Make connections to the following article and the
Steve Trudeau
Nov 22, 2011, 6:30:23 AM11/22/11
to AP Psychology P4
According to Everyday Fantasia, most synesthetes describe a faint
perception of an additional sense in response to a stimulus, such as a
color in their mind's eye while hearing sound or a sense of colored
flames around people. What makes cases such as Daniel Tammet and Dr.
Sean Day so remarkable is that they describe very concrete, consistent
responses to the same stimulus when it is presented, such as the
feeling of the trumpet on the back of the neck and that numbers have
specific textures. Tammet's brain seems transduce mental signals
involved in doing math into regions that process vision, such that,
while his brain subconsciously is crunching the numbers, Daniel can
just read the landscape that his brain creates for him from side to
side. Regardless of how the numbers are presented to him, each digit
has its own unique form, suggesting a perceptual constancy in Daniel's
processing, which allows him to make sense of what he sees. Because of
his unique processing, Daniel is able to tap into an amazing memory
through his visual sense, allowing him to replace 25 of 26 chess
pieces on a board and learn Icelandic well enough to hold a
conversation on live TV. Even when Tammet is not consciously able to
remember, such as during his gambling in Las Vegas, his brain is still
processing, leading his intuition, which in turn caused him to play
what would be considered a foolish srategy before winning on three
hands of 21. Though the thought was subliminal, his brain was still
able to compute which numbers were coming next and influence his
decisions. This ability seems have somewhat of a cost however. The
added processing needed for his brain to process numbers and display
them in a visual pattern may contribute to a sensory overload when
overstimulated. Tammet described his feeling intimidated by the
skyscrapers of New York which reminded him of his perception of 9s and
how he became overwhelmed in the noisy Vegas casino. Kim Peek's memory
is also quite remarkable, as is his way of reading, one eye on each
page. Most of us need both our eyes to read, processing information
from one focal point and reading as a continuous path from beginning
to end. Peek seems to read with two focal points, one for each eye and
each page, independently processing each page and combining them into
a meaningful whole.
perception of an additional sense in response to a stimulus, such as a
color in their mind's eye while hearing sound or a sense of colored
flames around people. What makes cases such as Daniel Tammet and Dr.
Sean Day so remarkable is that they describe very concrete, consistent
responses to the same stimulus when it is presented, such as the
feeling of the trumpet on the back of the neck and that numbers have
specific textures. Tammet's brain seems transduce mental signals
involved in doing math into regions that process vision, such that,
while his brain subconsciously is crunching the numbers, Daniel can
just read the landscape that his brain creates for him from side to
side. Regardless of how the numbers are presented to him, each digit
has its own unique form, suggesting a perceptual constancy in Daniel's
processing, which allows him to make sense of what he sees. Because of
his unique processing, Daniel is able to tap into an amazing memory
through his visual sense, allowing him to replace 25 of 26 chess
pieces on a board and learn Icelandic well enough to hold a
conversation on live TV. Even when Tammet is not consciously able to
remember, such as during his gambling in Las Vegas, his brain is still
processing, leading his intuition, which in turn caused him to play
what would be considered a foolish srategy before winning on three
hands of 21. Though the thought was subliminal, his brain was still
able to compute which numbers were coming next and influence his
decisions. This ability seems have somewhat of a cost however. The
added processing needed for his brain to process numbers and display
them in a visual pattern may contribute to a sensory overload when
overstimulated. Tammet described his feeling intimidated by the
skyscrapers of New York which reminded him of his perception of 9s and
how he became overwhelmed in the noisy Vegas casino. Kim Peek's memory
is also quite remarkable, as is his way of reading, one eye on each
page. Most of us need both our eyes to read, processing information
from one focal point and reading as a continuous path from beginning
to end. Peek seems to read with two focal points, one for each eye and
each page, independently processing each page and combining them into
a meaningful whole.
Fiona Merullo
Nov 22, 2011, 8:06:37 AM11/22/11
to AP Psychology P4
Synesthesia is really interesting to me. I wish we could see what it's
like to have synesthesia, but since it's a personal thing it's
impossible to see that unless you have it. So we need to rely on
videos and descriptions like these. Regardless, I'd love to have
synesthia, but just for a day. Synesthesia like Daniel Tamment's would
actually stress me out. I was a bit surprised that most people who
have synesthesia liked it; it would confuse me when driving, doing
school, and everyday activities if I had it. Every day is like an
amazing show, concert, or painting. It sounds incredible, but I
wouldn't want to have it all the time.
like to have synesthesia, but since it's a personal thing it's
impossible to see that unless you have it. So we need to rely on
videos and descriptions like these. Regardless, I'd love to have
synesthia, but just for a day. Synesthesia like Daniel Tamment's would
actually stress me out. I was a bit surprised that most people who
have synesthesia liked it; it would confuse me when driving, doing
school, and everyday activities if I had it. Every day is like an
amazing show, concert, or painting. It sounds incredible, but I
wouldn't want to have it all the time.
Synesthesia is essentially just another form of sensory interaction,
but it's different than most people. In most people, sense of smell
and taste interact; but in someone with synesthesia smell might
interact with sound. Synesthesia is different in everyone, but it is
true that cases like Daniel's are very rare. I still have trouble
understanding how his brain can work so differently than everyone
else's. His power with numbers was literally amazing, to the point
where I still don't understand it. I get that he sort of sees the
numbers on a visual landscape, but I don't quite understand how this
helps him do those remarkable calculations. I suppose by selective
attention he can pick and choose what visual keys in the landscape to
focus on. Overall it was very intriguing to learn about Daniel
Tamment. I am curious to see if he does any great things with his
power.
On Nov 14, 11:02 am, Mrs Sparrow <erinsparro...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Reminder: Your post should show thoughtfulness, not simply an ability to
> summarize. Posts are due by the end of the school day on 11/22 (BEFORE
> Thanksgiving vacation). Using concepts from BOTH Ch 5 and Ch 6 reflect on *
> synesthesia*. Make connections to the following article and the
Charles Garrido
Nov 22, 2011, 12:09:39 PM11/22/11
to AP Psychology P4
The very idea of synesthesia is amazing. I happened to see an
interview of Daniel Tammet with David Letterman and Daniel went into
depth about the normalcies of his life as well as its shortcomings.
His mind, though scientifically a beautiful anomaly, is both a gift
and curse for him. The process of transduction occurs for him, energy
is converted yet neurally the brain registers it on a different level.
Daniel seems to undergo parallel processing on exaggerated level. The
rods and cones in our eyes that distinguish color interact similarly
to most people as they do for Daniel yet the interaction beyond the
surface... I found that profoundly amazing. Daniel's sensory
experiences remind me of fictional characters in tall tales, much like
that of Sherlock Holmes being able to deduce entire personal histories
given the slightest clue or attribute to ponder upon. Daniel's shcemas
of the world and his level of consciousness seem to differ than any
may ever be able to understand, I'm sure there are thoughts he has
that nobody else could understand. The sensations he feels can be so
great and yet so insignificant that they can hardly be said to have
occurred at all. It makes me wonder about the limitations and benefits
of our own five senses. I admire the fact that he displays the classic
characteristics of a renaissance man, he isn't just specialized in one
subject. The fact that he displays mastery of linguistics, math,
science, and biology are profound. The most striking part of the
videos to me are the fact that he can learn a language in only one
week.
interview of Daniel Tammet with David Letterman and Daniel went into
depth about the normalcies of his life as well as its shortcomings.
His mind, though scientifically a beautiful anomaly, is both a gift
and curse for him. The process of transduction occurs for him, energy
is converted yet neurally the brain registers it on a different level.
Daniel seems to undergo parallel processing on exaggerated level. The
rods and cones in our eyes that distinguish color interact similarly
to most people as they do for Daniel yet the interaction beyond the
surface... I found that profoundly amazing. Daniel's sensory
experiences remind me of fictional characters in tall tales, much like
that of Sherlock Holmes being able to deduce entire personal histories
given the slightest clue or attribute to ponder upon. Daniel's shcemas
of the world and his level of consciousness seem to differ than any
may ever be able to understand, I'm sure there are thoughts he has
that nobody else could understand. The sensations he feels can be so
great and yet so insignificant that they can hardly be said to have
occurred at all. It makes me wonder about the limitations and benefits
of our own five senses. I admire the fact that he displays the classic
characteristics of a renaissance man, he isn't just specialized in one
subject. The fact that he displays mastery of linguistics, math,
science, and biology are profound. The most striking part of the
videos to me are the fact that he can learn a language in only one
week.
michaela harrington
Nov 22, 2011, 12:54:53 PM11/22/11
to AP Psychology P4
Daniel Tammet has the ability to see numbers as landscapes, as he
describes it. His brain is different than ours in the way he is able
to process information. When we hear a number we can recognize it and
maybe visualize what the number looks like. For Daniel, when he hears
a number he can see bright lights and other sensations that we only
know as sights or sounds. Daniel has synesthesia and so there is a
cross connection in his brain between number area and the shape and
texture area. For some reason when Daniel's brain is processing a
number the shape and texture part of his brain is also working and
making him feel sensations that most people only associate with
physical objects. Transduction is the change from one form of energy
to another. For example, when we hear a sound the wavelengths get
turned into electrical impulses that our brain can understand. For
Daniel these impulses are read differently by the brain. Similar to
Daniel, Crane and Day also experience sounds and taste as different
sensations. Their brains also have connections between their other
senses that allows them to taste colors and feel sounds. Synesthesia
is also a side affect of some drugs. These drugs causes a cross in
brain connections similar to what Tammet, Day, and Crane all
experience in everyday life.
describes it. His brain is different than ours in the way he is able
to process information. When we hear a number we can recognize it and
maybe visualize what the number looks like. For Daniel, when he hears
a number he can see bright lights and other sensations that we only
know as sights or sounds. Daniel has synesthesia and so there is a
cross connection in his brain between number area and the shape and
texture area. For some reason when Daniel's brain is processing a
number the shape and texture part of his brain is also working and
making him feel sensations that most people only associate with
physical objects. Transduction is the change from one form of energy
to another. For example, when we hear a sound the wavelengths get
turned into electrical impulses that our brain can understand. For
Daniel these impulses are read differently by the brain. Similar to
Daniel, Crane and Day also experience sounds and taste as different
sensations. Their brains also have connections between their other
senses that allows them to taste colors and feel sounds. Synesthesia
is also a side affect of some drugs. These drugs causes a cross in
brain connections similar to what Tammet, Day, and Crane all
experience in everyday life.
On Nov 14, 11:02 am, Mrs Sparrow <erinsparro...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Reminder: Your post should show thoughtfulness, not simply an ability to
> summarize. Posts are due by the end of the school day on 11/22 (BEFORE
> Thanksgiving vacation). Using concepts from BOTH Ch 5 and Ch 6 reflect on *
> synesthesia*. Make connections to the following article and the
yili...@live.com
Nov 22, 2011, 1:10:40 PM11/22/11
to AP Psychology P4
The ability to make connections between different sense sounds like it
would create much more enriching experiences and overall a more
interesting life. Even though I haven’t experienced the phenomenon
myself I would completely agree with the synesthetes that don’t want
to be rid of that experience. It seems like it would just be a more
extreme case of sensory interaction and since seeing something lovely
and smelling something appetizing makes one even more hungry than just
tasting the thing. I feel like I would enjoy and appreciate math more
if I could see Pi as a beautiful number or 333 as an attractive number
like Tammet does. It’s really interesting how the associations between
colors and numbers are so strong and defined if one is a synesthete,
as if one has had a particularly nasty experience as a child and
associates that strong memory with the taste of macaroni and cheese or
crackers the way that everyone in my English class associates English
with coffee. A bit like top-down processing?
would create much more enriching experiences and overall a more
interesting life. Even though I haven’t experienced the phenomenon
myself I would completely agree with the synesthetes that don’t want
to be rid of that experience. It seems like it would just be a more
extreme case of sensory interaction and since seeing something lovely
and smelling something appetizing makes one even more hungry than just
tasting the thing. I feel like I would enjoy and appreciate math more
if I could see Pi as a beautiful number or 333 as an attractive number
like Tammet does. It’s really interesting how the associations between
colors and numbers are so strong and defined if one is a synesthete,
as if one has had a particularly nasty experience as a child and
associates that strong memory with the taste of macaroni and cheese or
crackers the way that everyone in my English class associates English
with coffee. A bit like top-down processing?
Hannah Stahl
Nov 22, 2011, 1:37:36 PM11/22/11
to AP Psychology P4
Daniel Temmet experiences his senses in very different ways than most
people. His process of transduction is different in that sensory input
is not just transmitted into normal neural impulses. He associates
certain things with different numbers, such as bright light with 1 and
vast size with 9. In normal vision, we use rods and cones to detect
what we see. Rods discern detail in low light while cones can analyze
different colors. In Daniel, this visual processing is altered and his
senses may be mixed together. In the article, people with synesthesia
explain it as being normal to them and they merely sense stimuli in
two different parts of their brain. this, which includes things like
hearing numbers or feeling colors is more common among women. I would
like to know why this is and if it has to do with structural
differences in the brain.
people. His process of transduction is different in that sensory input
is not just transmitted into normal neural impulses. He associates
certain things with different numbers, such as bright light with 1 and
vast size with 9. In normal vision, we use rods and cones to detect
what we see. Rods discern detail in low light while cones can analyze
different colors. In Daniel, this visual processing is altered and his
senses may be mixed together. In the article, people with synesthesia
explain it as being normal to them and they merely sense stimuli in
two different parts of their brain. this, which includes things like
hearing numbers or feeling colors is more common among women. I would
like to know why this is and if it has to do with structural
differences in the brain.
Lekhya Vaddepati
Nov 22, 2011, 1:59:27 PM11/22/11
to AP Psychology P4
Daniel Tammet claims that he can solve complicated math problems all
in his head in just few minutes. When Tammet is solving calculations
mentally, he sees numbers in his head which he associates with certain
shapes and colors. For example, when Daniel sees number 9, he
associates the number with a shape and it is the biggest number he
sees and its his favorite number. Through synesthesia, Tammet sees
different numbers and these sensations produce another sensation; in
this case, he sees numbers. Scientists ponder whether Daniel Tammet
can really do such calculations or if he actually just memorized big
numbers such as pi. To make sure Daniel is telling the truth, Daniel
was asked to learn and speak one of the hardest languages in the
world, Icelandic. Many say that this language is so difficult to learn
that people from Iceland have a tough time communicating with each
other. Within one week, Daniel learned the language successfully and
he was able to go on a television show and speak fluently. This was
impressive, even for the native Icelandic speakers. This proves that
Daniel's brain functions differently than others and his brain can
process certain information faster than others. Tammet must have a
higher mode of visually or mentally processing information quicker.
in his head in just few minutes. When Tammet is solving calculations
mentally, he sees numbers in his head which he associates with certain
shapes and colors. For example, when Daniel sees number 9, he
associates the number with a shape and it is the biggest number he
sees and its his favorite number. Through synesthesia, Tammet sees
different numbers and these sensations produce another sensation; in
this case, he sees numbers. Scientists ponder whether Daniel Tammet
can really do such calculations or if he actually just memorized big
numbers such as pi. To make sure Daniel is telling the truth, Daniel
was asked to learn and speak one of the hardest languages in the
world, Icelandic. Many say that this language is so difficult to learn
that people from Iceland have a tough time communicating with each
other. Within one week, Daniel learned the language successfully and
he was able to go on a television show and speak fluently. This was
impressive, even for the native Icelandic speakers. This proves that
Daniel's brain functions differently than others and his brain can
process certain information faster than others. Tammet must have a
higher mode of visually or mentally processing information quicker.
Allie Schlener
Nov 28, 2011, 8:26:53 PM11/28/11
to AP Psychology P4
Daniel Tammet's condition is very interesting to me. It amazes me that
one in 2,000 people are synesthetes and that one in 300 have a
variation of the condition because before we started with chapters 5
and 6 I had no idea what synesthesia was even though one in 2,000 is
not extraordinarily rare. That would mean that statistically, out of
all of the teachers and the students at SHS (approximately), one
person would be synesthetic. I find it interesting the way the
different parts of the brain overlap, allowing senses to cross. When
Daniel Tammet read the numbers of Pi and learned a language in a week,
he proved to the world that his condition is a true gift and not a
hoax. When asked about numbers, for example with Pi, Daniel Tammet's
vision dominates over all other senses (visual capture), causing his
attention to be selected on his vision. The way his sensations are
perceived is different from the ordinary person, as transduction
doesn't only process sensory information and transfer it to neural
impulses, therefore one sense such as hearing can not only be
processed as a sound but also a visual stimuli (or any other sensory
stimuli).
one in 2,000 people are synesthetes and that one in 300 have a
variation of the condition because before we started with chapters 5
and 6 I had no idea what synesthesia was even though one in 2,000 is
not extraordinarily rare. That would mean that statistically, out of
all of the teachers and the students at SHS (approximately), one
person would be synesthetic. I find it interesting the way the
different parts of the brain overlap, allowing senses to cross. When
Daniel Tammet read the numbers of Pi and learned a language in a week,
he proved to the world that his condition is a true gift and not a
hoax. When asked about numbers, for example with Pi, Daniel Tammet's
vision dominates over all other senses (visual capture), causing his
attention to be selected on his vision. The way his sensations are
perceived is different from the ordinary person, as transduction
doesn't only process sensory information and transfer it to neural
impulses, therefore one sense such as hearing can not only be
processed as a sound but also a visual stimuli (or any other sensory
stimuli).
Mrs Sparrow
Feb 7, 2012, 3:07:51 PM2/7/12
to ap-psych...@googlegroups.com
jfdkljask;flj
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages