Synesthesia and the McCollough Effect.

V S Ramachandran,Zeve Marcus

doi:10.1177/2041669517711718

Abstract

Synesthetes, who see printed black letters and numbers as being colored, are thought to have enhanced cross-activation between brain modules for color and form. Since the McCollough effect also results from oriented contours (i.e., form) evoking specific colors, we conjectured that synesthetes may experience an enhanced McCollough effect, and find that this is indeed true.

Highlights

Synesthesia is a condition in which an otherwise normal person always sees printed letters or numbers tinged with specific colors (Baron-Cohen, Harrison, Goldstein, & Wyke, 1993; Cytowic, 1998; Galton, 1880; Ramachandran & Hubbard, 2001a, 2001b, 2003)
It is thought that prolonged exposure to green vertical stripes fatigues neurons sensitive to green vertical contours (Johnson, Hawken, & Shapley, 2008; McCollough, 1965), whereas viewing red horizontal stripes does the converse
Subsequent viewing of white vertical stripes causes a disproportionate activation of unadapted vertical-red neurons, causing you to see red

Summary

Introduction

Synesthesia is a condition in which an otherwise normal person always sees printed letters or numbers tinged with specific colors (Baron-Cohen, Harrison, Goldstein, & Wyke, 1993; Cytowic, 1998; Galton, 1880; Ramachandran & Hubbard, 2001a, 2001b, 2003). I-Perception pattern of vertical stripes, alternating every few seconds with a red and black pattern of horizontal stripes (Figure 1), an orientation-contingent color aftereffect is observed when black and white gratings are viewed. It is thought that prolonged exposure to green vertical stripes fatigues neurons sensitive to green vertical contours (Johnson, Hawken, & Shapley, 2008; McCollough, 1965), whereas viewing red horizontal stripes does the converse.

Results

Conclusion