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Related Experiment Videos

Increased structural connectivity in grapheme-color synesthesia.

Romke Rouw1, H Steven Scholte

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Roetersstraat 15, 1018WB Amsterdam, The Netherlands. R.Rouw@uva.nl

Nature Neuroscience
|May 23, 2007
PubMed
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This study found that grapheme-color synesthesia is linked to increased white matter connectivity. Diffusion tensor imaging revealed differences in brain structure, particularly in the inferior temporal cortex, between synesthesia subtypes.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Science
  • Psychology

Background:

  • Synesthesia is a neurological condition where stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway.
  • Grapheme-color synesthesia, where individuals associate specific colors with letters or numbers, is a common form.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the neural underpinnings of grapheme-color synesthesia using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).
  • To test the hypothesis that hyperconnectivity in specific brain regions is associated with synesthesia.
  • To differentiate between subtypes of grapheme-color synesthesia based on neural connectivity.

Main Methods:

  • Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used to assess white matter integrity and structural connectivity in 18 individuals with grapheme-color synesthesia and matched controls.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Anisotropic diffusion, an indicator of white matter coherence, was measured.
  • Connectivity patterns in different brain regions, including the inferior temporal cortex, superior parietal cortex, and frontal cortex, were analyzed.

    • Main Results:

    • Individuals with grapheme-color synesthesia exhibited greater anisotropic diffusion, indicating more coherent white matter, compared to controls.
    • Increased connectivity in the inferior temporal cortex was significantly higher in 'projector' synesthetes (who perceive colors externally) compared to 'associator' synesthetes (who perceive colors internally).
    • Differences in connectivity in the superior parietal or frontal cortex did not distinguish between synesthesia subtypes.

    Conclusions:

    • The study provides evidence that increased structural connectivity is associated with the presence of grapheme-color synesthesia.
    • Specific patterns of hyperconnectivity, particularly in the inferior temporal cortex, may contribute to the subjective experience and subtypes of synesthetic color perception.