Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2026

Training Synesthetic Letter-color Associations by Reading in Color
Published on: February 20, 2014
Executive functions in synesthesia
Romke Rouw1, Joram van Driel, Koen Knip
1Brain and Cognition, Dept. of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. R.Rouw@uva.nl
Abstract:
In grapheme-color synesthesia, a number or letter can evoke two different and possibly conflicting (real and synesthetic) color sensations at the same time. In this study, we investigate the relationship between synesthesia and executive control functions. First, no general skill differences were obtained between synesthetes and non-synesthetes in classic executive control paradigms. Furthermore, classic executive control effects did not interact with synesthetic behavioral effects. Third, we found support for our hypothesis that inhibition of a synesthetic color takes effort and time. Finally, individual differences analyses showed no relationship between the two skills; performance on a 'normal' Stroop task does not predict performance on a synesthetic Stroop task. Across four studies, the current results consistently show no clear relationship between executive control functions and synesthetic behavioral effects. This raises the question of which mechanisms are at play in synesthetic 'management' during the presence of two conflicting (real and synesthetic) sensations.
Related Concept Videos
Synesthesia
Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex.
Functions of the Nervous System
Visual Agnosia
Integration of Synaptic Events
Lateralization

