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Synthetic synaesthesia and sensory substitution
1Biological & Experimental Psychology Group, School of Biological & Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK. m.proulx@qmul.ac.uk
Consciousness and Cognition
|January 9, 2010
Summary
Blind users of sensory substitution devices can develop synthetic synaesthesia, experiencing visual sensations from sounds after extensive training. This cross-modal plasticity highlights the role of sensorimotor expertise in multisensory integration.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sensory Substitution
- Synaesthesia Research
Background:
- Sensory substitution devices (SSDs) translate visual information into auditory signals for blind individuals.
- Expert users of SSDs sometimes report subjective visual experiences.
- These experiences can extend to auditory stimuli unrelated to the device.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the phenomenon of synthetic synaesthesia in blind expert users of SSDs.
- To explore the role of sensorimotor learning and expertise in cross-modal plasticity.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of blind individuals using visual-to-auditory SSDs.
- Phenomenological reports of sensory experiences.
- Analysis of expertise acquisition and sensorimotor learning.
Main Results:
- Blind users developed synthetic synaesthesia, experiencing visual sensations from sounds after extensive SSD use.
- Expertise acquisition through sensorimotor learning appears crucial for developing this cross-modal phenomenon.
- Synthetic synaesthesia persisted even when not actively using the device.
Conclusions:
- Extensive sensorimotor learning with SSDs can induce synthetic synaesthesia in blind individuals.
- This suggests that expertise in processing cross-modal information can reshape sensory perception.
- Synthetic synaesthesia offers insights into brain plasticity and multisensory integration mechanisms.
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