Synesthetes claim sensory experiences, such as seeing color when reading or hearing a (black) number.
But how genuine are these reports and sensations? We introduce a rather direct measure of synesthetic perception: Synesthetes’ pupils respond to evoked color as if it was real color #vision! 👁️🎨🧪
November 26, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Synesthetes claim sensory experiences, such as seeing color when reading or hearing a (black) number.
But how genuine are these reports and sensations? We introduce a rather direct measure of synesthetic perception: Synesthetes’ pupils respond to evoked color as if it was real color #vision! 👁️🎨🧪
impatiently waiting for more synesthetes to post sketches of their mental models so I can milk them for content
March 25, 2026 at 9:53 PM
impatiently waiting for more synesthetes to post sketches of their mental models so I can milk them for content
Now final in @elife.bsky.social: #Synesthetes really do 'see' when reporting colors while reading (typeface gray) numbers: pupils change according to the perceived colors' brightness - if a synesthete sees a bright yellow, the pupils become smaller.
elifesciences.org/articles/110...
elifesciences.org/articles/110...
August 4, 2026 at 8:01 AM
Now final in @elife.bsky.social: #Synesthetes really do 'see' when reporting colors while reading (typeface gray) numbers: pupils change according to the perceived colors' brightness - if a synesthete sees a bright yellow, the pupils become smaller.
elifesciences.org/articles/110...
elifesciences.org/articles/110...
OH at work:
“So like, all synesthetes are raccoons, but not all raccoons are synesthetes…that’s how that works?”
“So like, all synesthetes are raccoons, but not all raccoons are synesthetes…that’s how that works?”
November 26, 2024 at 7:05 PM
OH at work:
“So like, all synesthetes are raccoons, but not all raccoons are synesthetes…that’s how that works?”
“So like, all synesthetes are raccoons, but not all raccoons are synesthetes…that’s how that works?”
For example … both Autistic ppl and Synesthetes are known to strongly personify objects and abstract concepts …
With many Synesthetes perceiving that numbers have complex abstract identities and an ineffable aspect of being living.
bsky.app/profile/auti...
With many Synesthetes perceiving that numbers have complex abstract identities and an ineffable aspect of being living.
bsky.app/profile/auti...
Object Personification is one of the “most-common-AND-least-talked-about” Autistic traits.
One of the many reasons it’s rarely talked about is the common response:
“doesn’t everyone do that?”
Autistic traits are distinguished by their *atypical* intensity
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30101594/
One of the many reasons it’s rarely talked about is the common response:
“doesn’t everyone do that?”
Autistic traits are distinguished by their *atypical* intensity
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30101594/
December 27, 2024 at 3:36 PM
For example … both Autistic ppl and Synesthetes are known to strongly personify objects and abstract concepts …
With many Synesthetes perceiving that numbers have complex abstract identities and an ineffable aspect of being living.
bsky.app/profile/auti...
With many Synesthetes perceiving that numbers have complex abstract identities and an ineffable aspect of being living.
bsky.app/profile/auti...
I realize this is a metaphorical question but my first thought was this souls like an interesting question to ask Synesthetes.
Which artist or band feels like a warm hug whenever you listen to them?
June 8, 2026 at 7:38 AM
I realize this is a metaphorical question but my first thought was this souls like an interesting question to ask Synesthetes.
Because the brains of babies and synesthetes share common features, it’s possible that an infant’s perception may look a lot like an extreme case of synesthesia. 🧪
The Girl Who Smelled Pink
A mother wonders if we are all born with synesthesia.
nautil.us
April 18, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Because the brains of babies and synesthetes share common features, it’s possible that an infant’s perception may look a lot like an extreme case of synesthesia. 🧪
For us non-synesthetes, it can't be overstressed how this strange this stuff gets:
"When you eat chicken, does it feel pointy or round? Is a week shaped like a tipped-over D with days arranged counterclockwise? Does the note B taste like horseradish?"
scientificamerican.com/article/what...
5/
"When you eat chicken, does it feel pointy or round? Is a week shaped like a tipped-over D with days arranged counterclockwise? Does the note B taste like horseradish?"
scientificamerican.com/article/what...
5/
What is synesthesia?
scientificamerican.com
June 26, 2025 at 2:26 PM
For us non-synesthetes, it can't be overstressed how this strange this stuff gets:
"When you eat chicken, does it feel pointy or round? Is a week shaped like a tipped-over D with days arranged counterclockwise? Does the note B taste like horseradish?"
scientificamerican.com/article/what...
5/
"When you eat chicken, does it feel pointy or round? Is a week shaped like a tipped-over D with days arranged counterclockwise? Does the note B taste like horseradish?"
scientificamerican.com/article/what...
5/
Synesthesia...
There are at least 80 types of synesthesia. Synesthetes use their abilities in memorization of names, numbers, mental arithmetic and more complex creative activities like producing visual art. It's like having an extra sense.
#ColorADay #BlueTue #photography #synethesia
There are at least 80 types of synesthesia. Synesthetes use their abilities in memorization of names, numbers, mental arithmetic and more complex creative activities like producing visual art. It's like having an extra sense.
#ColorADay #BlueTue #photography #synethesia
December 30, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Synesthesia...
There are at least 80 types of synesthesia. Synesthetes use their abilities in memorization of names, numbers, mental arithmetic and more complex creative activities like producing visual art. It's like having an extra sense.
#ColorADay #BlueTue #photography #synethesia
There are at least 80 types of synesthesia. Synesthetes use their abilities in memorization of names, numbers, mental arithmetic and more complex creative activities like producing visual art. It's like having an extra sense.
#ColorADay #BlueTue #photography #synethesia
i love doing the thing synesthetes do upon meeting which is asking what colours eachothers numbers are and immediately being like "what the fuck do you MEAN 3 is red to you it's OBVIOUSLY YELLOW" and then you fistfight
March 27, 2025 at 12:53 AM
i love doing the thing synesthetes do upon meeting which is asking what colours eachothers numbers are and immediately being like "what the fuck do you MEAN 3 is red to you it's OBVIOUSLY YELLOW" and then you fistfight
Infants who were two and three months old showed significant associations between shape and colour. By eight months old they were fading away.
This suggests that at that age, we're *all* temporary synesthetes.
So there's a wild thought.
📷: Liam Seskis
4/
This suggests that at that age, we're *all* temporary synesthetes.
So there's a wild thought.
📷: Liam Seskis
4/
June 26, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Infants who were two and three months old showed significant associations between shape and colour. By eight months old they were fading away.
This suggests that at that age, we're *all* temporary synesthetes.
So there's a wild thought.
📷: Liam Seskis
4/
This suggests that at that age, we're *all* temporary synesthetes.
So there's a wild thought.
📷: Liam Seskis
4/
I love synesthesia because it demonstrates how truly different perception can be. The various forms of reported synesthesia are so interesting. Would love to see this with time-space synesthetes
Synesthetes claim sensory experiences, such as seeing color when reading or hearing a (black) number.
But how genuine are these reports and sensations? We introduce a rather direct measure of synesthetic perception: Synesthetes’ pupils respond to evoked color as if it was real color #vision! 👁️🎨🧪
November 27, 2025 at 3:07 PM
I love synesthesia because it demonstrates how truly different perception can be. The various forms of reported synesthesia are so interesting. Would love to see this with time-space synesthetes
The alphabet means nothing to me. I know it’s precious to some synesthetes, but not me. I’m a number sicko. As far as I’m concerned it exists so we have language so we can do algebra and make polynomials and do more number theory
July 22, 2026 at 2:34 PM
The alphabet means nothing to me. I know it’s precious to some synesthetes, but not me. I’m a number sicko. As far as I’m concerned it exists so we have language so we can do algebra and make polynomials and do more number theory
Rachel Hughes, Ray Ray, Rachel, wandering hunter, synesthete.
Human (she is the ancestor of the ancient people - synesthetes), hunts monsters, travels with Ryu and Tadao.
#OC #art #procreate #lore
Human (she is the ancestor of the ancient people - synesthetes), hunts monsters, travels with Ryu and Tadao.
#OC #art #procreate #lore
May 15, 2026 at 11:06 AM
Rachel Hughes, Ray Ray, Rachel, wandering hunter, synesthete.
Human (she is the ancestor of the ancient people - synesthetes), hunts monsters, travels with Ryu and Tadao.
#OC #art #procreate #lore
Human (she is the ancestor of the ancient people - synesthetes), hunts monsters, travels with Ryu and Tadao.
#OC #art #procreate #lore
Shout-out to all my fellow synesthetes who can do shit like hearing colors and tasting aesthetics 🌈✨
September 23, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Shout-out to all my fellow synesthetes who can do shit like hearing colors and tasting aesthetics 🌈✨
Synesthetes must go so hard as designers.
February 26, 2026 at 12:27 PM
Synesthetes must go so hard as designers.
It's possible the pathways of their brains haven't finished connecting & they're enjoying the deeply trippy cognitive state of SYNESTHESIA.
For the 96% of us adults who aren't synesthetes, this is where you can smell colours, hear shapes or taste words by looking at them.
📷:Vasundhara Srinivas
2/
For the 96% of us adults who aren't synesthetes, this is where you can smell colours, hear shapes or taste words by looking at them.
📷:Vasundhara Srinivas
2/
June 26, 2025 at 2:20 PM
It's possible the pathways of their brains haven't finished connecting & they're enjoying the deeply trippy cognitive state of SYNESTHESIA.
For the 96% of us adults who aren't synesthetes, this is where you can smell colours, hear shapes or taste words by looking at them.
📷:Vasundhara Srinivas
2/
For the 96% of us adults who aren't synesthetes, this is where you can smell colours, hear shapes or taste words by looking at them.
📷:Vasundhara Srinivas
2/
Time-space synesthetes represent! My year is a long twisty ribbon.
April 8, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Time-space synesthetes represent! My year is a long twisty ribbon.
(1) reason why I can’t watch most movies & probably why watching squid games led to a melt down
November 28, 2023 at 3:24 PM
(1) reason why I can’t watch most movies & probably why watching squid games led to a melt down
Balle perdue pour les synesthètes là 😔
(Mais je ne sais pas combien d'entre eux cherchent à imposer leurs perceptions à l'univers entier)
(Mais je ne sais pas combien d'entre eux cherchent à imposer leurs perceptions à l'univers entier)
June 24, 2026 at 5:55 PM
Balle perdue pour les synesthètes là 😔
(Mais je ne sais pas combien d'entre eux cherchent à imposer leurs perceptions à l'univers entier)
(Mais je ne sais pas combien d'entre eux cherchent à imposer leurs perceptions à l'univers entier)
I have grapheme-color synesthesias which means I experience color when I look at or think about the English alphabet. Interesting to see that there is some pattern across thousands of synesthetes. They are mostly wrong imo lol. Only my colors are correct!!!
March 28, 2024 at 6:39 PM
I have grapheme-color synesthesias which means I experience color when I look at or think about the English alphabet. Interesting to see that there is some pattern across thousands of synesthetes. They are mostly wrong imo lol. Only my colors are correct!!!
constantly replying to synesthetes with So close!! That's a shape 💕
July 29, 2023 at 10:12 PM
constantly replying to synesthetes with So close!! That's a shape 💕
I'm sure it hits non-synesthetes on a subconscious level too
March 20, 2026 at 4:04 PM
I'm sure it hits non-synesthetes on a subconscious level too
grape, apparently, according to actual synesthetes. is the number 7 tasting like something a real bit from Milo's channel or are you just riffing right now
September 24, 2026 at 6:02 AM
grape, apparently, according to actual synesthetes. is the number 7 tasting like something a real bit from Milo's channel or are you just riffing right now