Emotions and Consciousness Alterations in Music-color Synesthesia

Abstract

ABSTRACT Music-color synesthesia is a neurological condition in which musical notes or melodies trigger automatic and consistent additional perceptions (e.g., colors, shapes, scenes). Music listening is sometimes accompanied by strong experiences related to music (SEMs), including emotions and alterations of consciousness, and these SEMs have been suggested to mediate some music-color associations. We investigated SEMs in a group of music-color synesthetes and controls. Participants underwent a semi-structured interview and completed the OAV questionnaire to assess alterations of consciousness during music listening. All music-color synesthetes reported that their music-color synesthesia were accompanied by intense emotions including euphoria, fear, love, sadness, and disgust. In addition, most music-color synesthetes and no controls reported alterations of consciousness including out-of-body experiences, depersonalization, alterations of time, and alterations in limb ownership. Also, a majority of music-color synesthetes reported other synesthesia involving visceral or emotional perceptions as well as alterations of consciousness in everyday life. Overall, the data suggest that music-color synesthesia can be accompanied by atypical functioning in brain systems linked to emotions and consciousness.