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Related Concept Videos

Synesthesia01:27

Synesthesia

Synesthesia is a remarkable condition where stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway. People with synesthesia experience a blending or crossing of their senses, such as sight and sound, leading to cross-modal sensations. In this condition, the stimulation of one sense, such as hearing a number or musical note, triggers an experience of another sense, like sensing a specific color, taste, or smell. People...
Overview of Synapses01:25

Overview of Synapses

A synapse is a specialized structure where two neurons connect, allowing them to pass an electrical or chemical signal to another neuron. It is the point of communication between neurons. The term "synapse" is derived from the Greek word "synapsis," which means "conjunction." The entire process of neural communication revolves around the synapse. When activated, a neuron releases chemicals known as neurotransmitters into the synapse. These neurotransmitters cross the synapse and bind to...
Introduction to Special Senses01:26

Introduction to Special Senses

Sensory receptors play an integral part in comprehending our external and internal environments. They receive diverse stimuli, converting them into the nervous system's electrochemical signals. This conversion occurs as the stimulus alters the sensory neuron's cell membrane potential, instigating the generation of an action potential. This action potential is subsequently transmitted to the central nervous system (CNS), which integrates with other sensory data or higher cognitive functions.
Electrical Synapses01:28

Electrical Synapses

Electrical synapses found in all nervous systems play important and unique roles. In these synapses, the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes are very close together (3.5 nm) and are actually physically connected by channel proteins forming gap junctions.
Gap junctions allow the current to pass directly from one cell to the next. In contrast, in the chemical synapse, the neurotransmitters carry the information through the synaptic cleft from one neuron to the next. They consist of two...
Reason and Intuition01:37

Reason and Intuition

The human brain processes information for decision-making using one of two routes: an intuitive system and a rational system (Epstein, 1994; popularized by Kahneman, 2011 as System 1 and System 2, respectively). The intuitive system is quick, impulsive, and operates with minimal effort, relying on emotions or habits to provide cues for what to do next, while the rational system is logical, analytical, deliberate, and methodical. Research in neuropsychology suggests that the brain can only use...
Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 26, 2026

Training Synesthetic Letter-color Associations by Reading in Color
10:27

Training Synesthetic Letter-color Associations by Reading in Color

Published on: February 20, 2014

Defining synaesthesia: a response to two excellent commentaries.

Julia Simner1

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Edinburgh, UK. jsimner@ed.ac.uk

British Journal of Psychology (London, England : 1953)
|January 11, 2012
PubMed
Summary

This response examines synaesthesia definitions, suggesting it

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychology

Background:

  • Current definitions of synaesthesia may oversimplify its diverse nature.
  • Existing criteria for synaesthesia lack comprehensive examination.
  • Commentaries on 'Defining Synaesthesia' prompt further discussion.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically evaluate the established criteria for defining synaesthesia.
  • To address the homogeneity, potential multiple causes, and continuum of synaesthesia.
  • To foster a more nuanced understanding of synaesthetic experiences.

Main Methods:

  • Author response to commentaries.
  • Critical analysis of existing synaesthesia definitions.
  • Examination of synaesthesia's heterogeneity, etiology, and spectrum.

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A Two-interval Forced-choice Task for Multisensory Comparisons

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Investigating the Effect of Visual Imagery and Learning Shape-Audio Regularities on Bouba and Kiki

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 26, 2026

Training Synesthetic Letter-color Associations by Reading in Color
10:27

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Published on: February 20, 2014

A Two-interval Forced-choice Task for Multisensory Comparisons
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A Two-interval Forced-choice Task for Multisensory Comparisons

Published on: November 9, 2018

Investigating the Effect of Visual Imagery and Learning Shape-Audio Regularities on Bouba and Kiki
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Investigating the Effect of Visual Imagery and Learning Shape-Audio Regularities on Bouba and Kiki

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Main Results:

  • Existing definitions may present synaesthesia as too uniform.
  • Synaesthesia might stem from various neurological underpinnings.
  • A continuum likely exists between synaesthetes and non-synaesthetes.

Conclusions:

  • Synaesthesia is likely more diverse than current definitions suggest.
  • Acknowledging multiple causes and a continuum refines synaesthesia understanding.
  • Revisiting synaesthesia criteria is crucial for accurate research and diagnosis.