For Brooke Bhola, 24, letters have always had associated colors: U is yellow, N is light blue, and T is orange. This unique sensory experience, which she once thought was exclusive to her, was later identified as synesthesia after watching a docuseries. Synesthesia, defined by Joel Salinas, MD, a board-certified neurologist, and Nandakumar Narayanan, MD, PhD, a professor of neurology, as a “blending of the senses,” manifests in various forms. This rare condition, affecting at least 4 percent of people globally according to the Cleveland Clinic, can be both a challenge and an asset, with most individuals not requiring medical intervention.

Understanding how synesthesia works involves recognizing the “cross-talk between the visual and auditory processing centers,” explains Dr. Narayanan. The experience is highly individual, affecting different senses and varying in intensity from fleeting moments to constant effects, as noted by the Cleveland Clinic.While much remains unknown, research suggests a hereditary component, as indicated by Dr. Salinas. It can also be linked to specific neurological differences, including being common among people on the autism spectrum, and can even develop after a stroke, according to Necrisha Roach, MD, chair of the Neurology/Neurosurgery section at the National Medical Association.

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Synesthesia often has a strong association with creativity, frequently observed in individuals involved in the arts. Dr. Roach highlights that some artists are born with it, while for others, it develops over time. Celebrated musicians like Pharrell Williams, who sees “ghost images” after hearing a sound, and Beyoncé, who described harmonies as colors in her song “Beyoncé Interlude,” are examples of public figures speculated or confirmed to experience forms of synesthesia.

The spectrum of synesthesia is broad, encompassing at least 60 variants, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Researchers continuously work to categorize and understand these different forms. Broadly, synesthesia is categorized into two main types: Associative synesthesia involves an internal blending of senses within the mind, where, for instance, a color like pink might evoke a feeling of sadness without any physical manifestation. In contrast, Projective synesthesia involves sensations that are projected externally, such as perceiving the taste of vanilla as the taste of lobster.

Several specific variants illustrate this diversity:

• Chromesthesia: An associative form where individuals “see” sounds, associating different pitches and tones with specific colors. This can be an advantage in creative fields, with some speculating that Mozart may have experienced it.

• Grapheme-color synesthesia: This variant, exemplified by Brooke Bhola, causes a letter, character, or number to invoke a sensation associated with a particular color.

• Misophonia: Characterized by sounds evoking specific feelings, often negative, leading to strong aversion, such as a negative reaction to the sound of chewing.

• Mirror-touch synesthesia: Individuals experience phantom sensations of touch when witnessing someone else being touched, even on a screen.

• Lexical-gustatory synesthesia: This causes phantom tastes triggered by hearing or seeing words, even if those words are unrelated to food, for example, the word “virtual” tasting like fish.

  

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While synesthesia is a deeply personal experience, it can occasionally lead to distressing sensory processing issues. For those who find their synesthetic triggers bothersome, consulting a primary care doctor is recommended, despite the absence of a clinical diagnostic tool for diagnosis. The primary treatment approach for managing distressing symptoms is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a psychological treatment focused on altering thinking patterns, as stated by Dr. Narayanan.

However, intervention is not always necessary, and for many, synesthesia can be a distinct advantage. Brooke Bhola, for instance, found her letter-color associations beneficial in school activities like spelling bees. Ultimately, whether it impacts one's life negatively or positively, synesthesia represents an individual’s unique “normal.” As Dr. Salinas aptly puts it, when asked if it's a gift or a curse, he prefers to say, “it's neither.”