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Toward a visuospatial developmental account of sequence-space synesthesia.
Mark C Price1, David G Pearson
1Psychology Faculty, University of Bergen Bergen, Norway.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
|November 5, 2013
Summary
Sequence-space synesthesia involves experiencing sequences spatially. This study argues these spatial forms are a type of visuospatial imagery, developing from childhood representations and influenced by individual differences.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Psychology
Background:
- Sequence-space synesthesia is a phenomenon where individuals perceive abstract sequences spatially.
- Existing explanations for this phenomenon vary.
- Understanding the underlying mechanisms is crucial for cognitive science.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose that sequence-space synesthetic experiences are continuous with non-synesthetic visuospatial imagery.
- To explain the development and characteristics of these spatial forms using existing theories of mental imagery and working memory.
- To account for individual differences in spatial form characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical analysis drawing from literature on mental imagery, working memory, and developmental psychology.
- Comparison of characteristics of synesthetic spatial forms with non-synesthetic visuospatial imagery.
- Examination of developmental trajectories of visuospatial representations.
Main Results:
- Sequence-space synesthetic spatial forms share key characteristics with general visuospatial imagery, including dynamism, elaborative nature, involuntary experience, and temporal consistency.
- The development of these spatial forms can be explained by the progression of visuospatial representations from childhood to adulthood.
- Individual variations in visuospatial processing styles contribute to the diversity observed in spatial forms.
Conclusions:
- Sequence-space synesthesia is best understood as a form of visuospatial imagery, rather than a distinct phenomenon.
- The development and characteristics of spatial forms are rooted in general cognitive processes related to mental imagery and working memory.
- Individual differences in visuospatial cognition play a significant role in shaping the subjective experience of sequence-space synesthesia.
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