synaesthia

This is the best book I've ever read on the subject. I came to it from a different book, The Man Who Mistook his Wife for Hat, I believe.

I don't have this condition but I think it would be cool.

The Man Who Tasted Shapes

I have to say - This thread is fascinating.

Oh cool. Another nifty book to check out!

It's cool to hear about other people's experiences as like Legs said, when you talk to someone who does not have this, they can make you feel pretty freaky.

Since it tends to cluster in families, I emailed my son and sibs and so far they all have at least something small. Interestingly enough we all have a variation on the week/year thing, and my son, one sister and I are the only ones with colour issues. (My sister had a cesarean last year and said her scar felt black as it was healing.)

Those of you with this, have you asked anyone in your family?

My sister and at least one of her kids have some sort of taste/food texture sensory sensitivity.  I don't know if it's synaesthesia or not.  I tried talking to my sister a couple of times about mine, but she isn't really someone to talk about things like that.

Next time I talk to my dad, I will ask him.  If anyone else in my family has it, it's probably dad.  One doctor diagnosed him with adult ADD, but then the next one said he probably has Asperger's (this was before everyone on the internet came down with it).  I am not sure if it was ever resolved, but I know for a while he had some sort of diagnosis like that on his records.

My mother has it a bit - like I do. Will ask my 2 aunts and uncle.

"I am reasonably sure that I am a synaesthete. I have always perceived the week as an oval and the year as a circle."

Me too! I've tried explaining this to other people, and they always look at me like I'm crazy.

I also have a really good memory, and am good at placing dates. I think the reason is that I can place them on my visual circular calender.

Edited to add:

Just looking at this article, and this is completely how I think:

"For example, some see the months of the year in a running track shape, with, say, August and September taking up most of the right-hand side and the rest of the months squashed on the left." "People who experience a visual week or year are often able to use this information to recall times and dates extremely well."

So I guess my hypothesis was correct.

This is fascinating!