Synesthesia: Smelling Sounds, Tasting Colours & Other Mixed Senses

Jamie Ward is a cognitive scientist and an expert on why people's brains and cognition differ across individuals. Roughly 3% of the world experiences synesthesia—the mixing of senses where you might taste words, smell colors, and other such phenomena. In this discussion, expect to learn about the range of experiences among synesthetes, the types of people who have synesthesia, the relationship between psychedelics and synesthesia, why people have synesthesia, and much more. Timestamps: 00:00 What is Synesthesia? 01:24 The Range of Experiences 03:01 Personality Traits and Abilities 05:19 Improved Memory Among Synesthetes 07:35 Differences in Pattern Recognition 12:05 Living With Synesthesia 14:29 Synesthesia and Psychedelics 18:49 Expectations, Perception, Cognition