Abstract
Introduction: Synaesthesia is a phenomenon in which a certain stimulus induces a concurrent sensory perception; it has an estimated prevalence of 4%. Sexual arousal as an inducer for synaesthetic perceptions is rarely mentioned in the literature but can be found sometimes in case reports about subjective orgasmic experiences.Aims: To examine whether synaesthetic perceptions during sexual intercourse have an impact on the sexual experience and the extent of sexual trance compared to non-synaesthetes.Methods: In total, 19 synaesthetes with sexual forms of synaesthesia (17 female; 2 male) were included as well as corresponding control data of 36 non-synaesthetic subjects (n = 55). Two questionnaires were used to assess relevant aspects of sexual function and dysfunction (a German adaption of the Brief Index of Sexual Functioning, KFSP) as well as the occurrence and extent of sexual trance (German version of the Altered States of Consciousness Questionnaire, OAVAV). Additionally qualitative interviews were conducted in some subjects to further explore the nature of sexual experiences in synaesthetes.Main Outcome Measures: Sexual experience and extent of sexual trance during intercourse.Results: Synaesthetes depicted significantly better overall sexual function on the KFSP with increased scores for the subscale “sexual appetence” but coevally significant lower subscale scores for “sexual satisfaction.” Sexual dysfunction was not detected in this sample. Synaesthetes depicted significantly higher levels of the subscales “oceanic boundlessness” and “visionary restructuralization” than controls using the OAVAV. Qualitative interviews revealed varying synaesthetic perceptions during the different states of arousal. Furthermore, synaesthetes reported an unsatisfactory feeling of isolation caused by the idiosyncratic perceptions.Conclusions: Synaesthetes with sexual forms of synaesthesia seem to experience a deeper state of sexual trance without, however, enhanced satisfaction during sexual intercourse.
Highlights
Synaesthesia is a phenomenon in which a certain stimulus induces a concurrent sensory perception; it has an estimated prevalence of 4%
Synaesthetes reported an unsatisfactory feeling of isolation caused by the idiosyncratic perceptions
Synaesthetes with sexual forms of synaesthesia seem to experience a deeper state of sexual trance without, enhanced satisfaction during sexual intercourse
Summary
Synaesthesia is a phenomenon in which a certain stimulus induces a concurrent sensory perception; it has an estimated prevalence of 4%. Sexual arousal as an inducer for synaesthetic perceptions is rarely mentioned in the literature but can be found sometimes in case reports about subjective orgasmic experiences. According to Day (2004) the most common form is grapheme-color synaesthesia with prevalence at 68.8% among synaesthetes. Orgasms as inducers for colored visions are considered less frequent with a prevalence of 2.15%. In some cases flavors as synaesthetic concurrents induced by orgasms are mentioned as well. Sexual types of synaesthesia as described below do contain orgasms and sexual arousal and more general tactile inducers such as touching, caressing, and petting (i.e., all forms of physical contact during sexual intercourse). In literature sexual types of synaesthesia are rarely mentioned. Cytowic (1989) notes that in some cases “kissing and sexual intercourse is a reliable trigger (. . .), causing colored photisms, tactile shapes and textures www.frontiersin.org
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