Bridging senses: novel insights from synaesthesia

Abstract

Synaesthesia is a neurological phenomenon that can offer an unusually clear window into the factors influencing human sensory perception and the range of normal experience [1,2]. Sometimes described as a blending of the senses, where exposure to a triggering stimulus (e.g. music and letters of the alphabet) causes an immediate additional sensation (e.g. colours and tastes), it has been reported that synaesthesia naturally affects 1–4% of people [2], and has a range of different types [3]. These developmental forms of synaesthesia are thought to involve an intertwining of innate predispositions [4] with environmental factors and so have potential to give insights into how genetics and learning interact to create our views of the world around us [1]. The status of synaesthesia as a topic of shared interest across multiple areas of science (psychology, linguistics, cognitive neuroscience, genetics, etc.) necessitates a high level of interdisciplinary interaction to generate scientific advances. Therefore, in October 2018, international experts from these diverse disciplines came together at the Royal Society in London for a Scientific Discussion Meeting on ‘Bridging senses: new developments in synaesthesia’. Over 2 days, we exchanged views on the nature of this fascinating condition and what it might tell us more broadly about the biology of human sensory experiences, with a series of engaging talks presenting new research findings, as well as lively interactive debates. In the current special issue, comprising 16 different articles, speakers and participants from the meeting have contributed peer-reviewed opinion pieces, reviews and original research capturing both the state of the art and insights into future directions of this dynamic field.