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Published on: February 20, 2014
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Synaesthesia is linked to a distinctive and heritable cognitive profile
1School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK.
Summary
People with synaesthesia share a distinct cognitive profile, including vivid imagery and strong memory. This
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Genetics
Background:
- Synaesthesia is a neurological condition where sensory pathways are linked.
- Previous research suggests a potential genetic component to synaesthesia.
- The cognitive underpinnings of synaesthesia are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify a distinct cognitive profile associated with synaesthesia.
- To investigate if this profile represents a heritable endophenotype.
- To explore the evolutionary advantages of synaesthetic cognitive traits.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a machine-learning classifier to distinguish synaesthetes from non-synaesthetes.
- Assessed cognitive and personality measures, including mental imagery, episodic memory, and attention-to-detail.
- Examined cognitive profiles of non-synaesthetic relatives of synaesthetes.
Main Results:
- A distinct cognitive profile ('synaesthetic disposition') was identified in the general population.
- Synaesthetes could be accurately classified using standard cognitive and personality measures.
- Non-synaesthetic relatives shared cognitive similarities with synaesthetes, suggesting heritability.
Conclusions:
- The cognitive mechanisms underlying synaesthesia appear continuous, not dichotomous.
- A heritable 'synaesthetic disposition' offers cognitive benefits without anomalous sensory experiences.
- This disposition may be linked to distinct clinical vulnerabilities.
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