Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2026

Training Synesthetic Letter-color Associations by Reading in Color
Published on: February 20, 2014
Colored halos around faces and emotion-evoked colors: a new form of synesthesia
Vilayanur S Ramachandran1, Luke Miller, Margaret S Livingstone
1University of CA, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0109, USA. vramacha@ucsd.edu
Abstract:
The claim that some individuals see colored halos or auras around faces has long been part of popular folklore. Here we report on a 23-year-old man (subject TK) diagnosed with Asperger's disorder, who began to consistently experience colors around individuals at the age of 10. TK's colors are based on the individual's identity and emotional connotation. We interpret these experiences as a form of synesthesia, and confirm their authenticity through a target detection paradigm. Additionally, we investigate TK's claim that emotions evoke highly specific colors, allowing him, despite his Asperger's, to introspect on emotions and recognize them in others.
Related Concept Videos
Synesthesia
Color Vision
Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways
Halo Effect
Facial Feedback Hypothesis
Altered States of Awareness
The ingestion of substances like stimulants or hallucinogens leads to chemical alterations in the brain that...

