It has been suggested in the literature that Synaesthesia, as an expression of syncretic thought, would be more common in non-Western than in Western cultures. Given the lack of availability of widely divergent cultural groups and the general lack of knowledge about the phenomenon, it was decided to study the possibility that synaesthesia in our society might be related to socio-economic class. A group of high school students from a broad range of socio-economic backgrounds was studied, and the results suggest that the occurrence of synaesthesia is not related to class. In addition, it was found that 50% of the sample tested were synaesthetic to some degree, an incidence higher than any reported previously for adults. The various types of synaesthesia are discussed in conjunction with a hypothetical neurophysiological basis for the phenomenon. It was found that about 60% of the synaesthetic subjects showed evidence of incomplete cerebral dominance. However' no definite conclusions as to the causes of synaesthesia in adults could be determined from the observations made, and the questions raised by this study offer suggestions for future research into the problem.

<p> The present collection of studies examines how sensory information is interrelated, and how that changes with age and experience. The hypotheses motivating the research were based on the sensory associations of adults who experience concrete inter/intra-sensory linkage, known as synesthesia. Adult synesthesia can inform the study of perceptual development, and even of language, because it appears to represent one way in which normal developmental mechanisms can play out. Using insights gained from adults with synesthesia, we derived novel hypotheses about cross-modal and cross-dimensional links likely to be present in early childhood and to persist in muted form in non-synesthetic adults.</p> <p> The research reported in Chapters 2 and 3 was an examination of the learned and naturally biased influences on the development of one type of intermodal sensory association. Specifically, it investigated whether colour-letter associations found in adults reflect learned versus naturally-biased influences between shape and colour. Results from these two studies suggest that pre-literate children (2.5-3 years old) show natural biases to associate certain shapes to certain colours, which can be manifest as colour associations to letters. Naturally-biased associations between shape and colour appear to be based, in part, on the angularity of the shape. In addition to the same naturally biased colour letter associations found in toddlers, older children (7-9 years old) and adults showed colour letter associations that appear to be based in literacy, since they were not present in preliterate toddlers. The research reported in Chapter 4 was an examination of crossmodal associations between sound and shape. Specifically, it investigated the influences of consonant and vowel sound on the mapping of words to shape in toddlers. Results from this study suggest that the vowel sound of a nonsense word can reliably predict its association to a shape with specific characteristics (rounded versus jagged). Such natural biases may help bootstrap language learning. The research reported in Chapter 5 was an examination of cross-modal associations to odour. Specifically, it investigated whether there any consistent cross-modal associations between odour and either colour or texture. Results from this study suggest that there are consistent colour and texture associations to odours, some of which do not appear to be based in experience. Across studies, pre-literate toddlers, older children, and/or adults provide evidence that stimulus characteristics reliably relate to one another cross-dimensionally and crossmodally. Further, sensory associations in adulthood appear to result from an interplay of learning and natural biases, and non-synesthetic adults and toddlers show consistent, naturally-biased sensory associations similar to those seen in synesthesia.</p> <p> The work presented in this thesis reveals the value of deriving hypotheses from the phenomenon of adult synesthesia about the interplay of learning and natural biases in the formation of sensory associations.</p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The five senses are something we rely on to perceive our external world. Through an architectural sense, meditative and relaxing experiences establish themselves. How one is influenced by their surroundings a sense of self sparks a connection between body and place. Architecture, along with the phenomenon of synesthesia, brings another level of understanding of the world. With architectural spaces that enclose and water, a sense can be amplified and advanced to the forefront of the accompanying senses. Through the perception of one sense through another, the question of how the senses are in association with each other arises. With being submerged underground, a meditative refuge for the self embodies the five senses and the sense - less. Sight, touch, smell, taste, and sound work collectively to convey the experience of synesthesia. The perception of senses through another creates unique experiences and evokes self awareness. / Master of Architecture / The five senses [ sight, touch, hearing, smell, and taste ] are something we rely on to perceive our external world. Through an architecture of sense, meditative and relaxing experiences establish themselves. This sense of self sparks a connection between body and place. Architecture, along with the phenomenon of synesthesia, brings another level of understanding of the world. With architecture and water, a sense can be amplified and advanced to the forefront of the accompanying senses. Through the perception of one sense through another, the question of how the senses are in association with each other arises.

A presente pesquisa tem como objetivo principal, o estudo de possibilidades sinestésicas no design gráfico. Analisar diferentes técnicas gráficas e estímulos visuais que remetam ou estimulem os diferentes sentidos humanos. Compreender melhor as relações entre os signos visuais com os signos dos demais sentidos: sonoros, táteis, olfativos e gustativos, observando possíveis relações de correspondência entre os mesmos e refletindo sobre sua contribuição no processo de comunicação. Dentro de cada relação, são apresentadas as relações sinestésicas encontradas por pesquisadores diversos, resultantes de estudos relacionados principalmente a psicodinâmica das cores, psicologia da forma e gestalt, agrupados por suas relações com cores, formas, texturas e relações espaciais. As relações sinestésicas encontradas servem como parâmetros principais para a análise de diferentes peças gráficas de produção recente, como: cartazes, embalagens e capas de livro, entre outros. Tendo em vista o grande crescimento de informações a que somos submetidos, das mídias disponíveis, do mercado e da população em geral, nota-se a necessidade de projetos cada vez mais instigantes, eficientes e preocupados com as necessidades de cada mercado. Esta pesquisa visa contribuir na determinação de recursos que permitam suprir tais necessidades, potencializando os resultados do design gráfico na função de identificar, informar, instruir, apresentar e promover, através de uma idéia gráfica. / This research has the aim to study synesthesia in graphic design, analyzing different graphical techniques and visual stimulations that forward or stimulate the different human beings feelings. To better understanding the relation among the visual signs and the others human being feelings, as smell, flavor, touch, sound and also observing the possible relation correspondence among them reflecting on its contribution on the communication process. Inside of each relation are presented synesthesia relation found by many researchers due to studies mainly related to psychodynamics of the colors, form psychology and gestalt, grouped by its relation by color, form, space form and texture. The found synesthesia relations serve as the main parameters to analyze different graphic parts of a recent production such as book covers, posters, packing among others. Considering the great growth of the information that we are submitted, the available medias, the market and the population in general, it is observed the necessity of projects each time more interesting, efficient and worried about the necessities of each market. This research aims to contribute to the determination of the resources which will permit to supply these necessities empowering the graphic design on the function to identify, to inform, to instruct, to present and to promote through a graphic idea.

This thesis should solve the mystery of the synesthesia (especially on field of the theory of literature). The explanation of selected art schools of the second half of nineteenth century should anchor this phenomenon in the history of literature. The thesis analysis the concrete cases selected from the primary texts (collection of poems Zazděná okna, prose Román o Manfredu Macmillenovi and drama Sen o říši krásy). This analysis is based on the various types od synesthesia. The analysis prooved that this phenomenon does not only exist in the world literature, but it also exists in the Czech literature of that age. The comparison of the results extracted by Sean A. Day, Ph.D. was very interesting. This thesis examines also the colours and seing of the colours in the dreams. The work of Svetozar Nevole showed up useful. Although the work is almost 50 years younger than the primary literature, there were no big problems with adaptation of this theory for the primary texts.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Edinburgh, 2001.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 2004. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Une partie du monde affronte la crise. Afin de pallier à la morosité ambiante, les acteurs de la communication marchande travaillent l’affect de leurs cibles. Pour influer sur leurs perceptions, ils codifient parfois leurs messages en insérant le signe du sourire sous des formes plurielles. Un récepteur peut ainsi assimiler le message souvent transmis subliminalement sous un angle favorable car la réception visuelle du sourire colore ses émotions pour lui permettre de voir « la vie en rose ».Ce dispositif de communication convoque le questionnement d’une correspondance synesthésiste entre l’affichage de cette expression faciale et d’une couleur. Dans un cadre de dimension internationale, la méthode heuristique menée dans la Principauté de Monaco auprès d’un échantillon d’individus de différentes cultures, approche cette question idiosyncratique ou universelle de la synesthésie du sourire. L’étude présente une analyse sémiosynesthésiste pour découvrir la couleur du sourire. Les résultats de la réception multimodale des muscles zygomatiques montrent que les sujets perçoivent l’objet communicationnel du sourire selon des couleurs fondamentales et universelles. Cette étude enrichit les connaissances sur la synesthésie d’un signe, d’une expression faciale par le sourire. Elle affiche le sourire comme émetteur synesthésiste de la couleur jaune. Cette recherche ouvre des champs d’investigations variés pour que signes et couleurs ne se heurtent pas en diffusant des messages contraires. En outre, elle permet de poser un nouveau regard sur les questions intemporelles de manipulations synesthésistes par les messages subliminaux. / A part of the world is currently facing the global economic crisis. To overcome this gloom, professionals in the world of communication work in order to influence their target audience in their favor. To positively impact the audience, sometimes communication professionals codify their messages by inserting the sign of the smile in various forms. Thus, a receiver can assimilate a message - often transmitted subliminally - in a positive manner, because the visual reception of a smile colors the emotions to allow the receiver to see through "rose colored glasses". To approach this idiosyncratic or universal question of synesthetic correspondence and synesthesia’s smile in a unique international context, the Principality of Monaco, surveys of a sample of individuals from different cultures is conducted. This research presents the results of a semiosynesthetic analysis to identify the color of the smile. The bimodal reception of the zygomatic muscles confirms that subjects perceive the communicative purpose of the smile as having fundamental and universal colors. As a result, the color yellow is widely attributed to the smile.The study also enriches our knowledge about the potential synesthesia of a sign and a facial expression. Finally, this research is committed to strengthening the analysis by other methodological approaches and fields of research on the characteristics of the color yellow, and its potential subliminal influences. This is in order to avoid a clash between signs and color which could lead to disseminating contrary messages. Furthermore, this analysis provides a new perspective on timeless issues of synesthesia’s manipulation through subliminal messages.

A presente pesquisa tem como objetivo principal, o estudo de possibilidades sinestésicas no design gráfico. Analisar diferentes técnicas gráficas e estímulos visuais que remetam ou estimulem os diferentes sentidos humanos. Compreender melhor as relações entre os signos visuais com os signos dos demais sentidos: sonoros, táteis, olfativos e gustativos, observando possíveis relações de correspondência entre os mesmos e refletindo sobre sua contribuição no processo de comunicação. Dentro de cada relação, são apresentadas as relações sinestésicas encontradas por pesquisadores diversos, resultantes de estudos relacionados principalmente a psicodinâmica das cores, psicologia da forma e gestalt, agrupados por suas relações com cores, formas, texturas e relações espaciais. As relações sinestésicas encontradas servem como parâmetros principais para a análise de diferentes peças gráficas de produção recente, como: cartazes, embalagens e capas de livro, entre outros. Tendo em vista o grande crescimento de informações a que somos submetidos, das mídias disponíveis, do mercado e da população em geral, nota-se a necessidade de projetos cada vez mais instigantes, eficientes e preocupados com as necessidades de cada mercado. Esta pesquisa visa contribuir na determinação de recursos que permitam suprir tais necessidades, potencializando os resultados do design gráfico na função de identificar, informar, instruir, apresentar e promover, através de uma idéia gráfica. / This research has the aim to study synesthesia in graphic design, analyzing different graphical techniques and visual stimulations that forward or stimulate the different human beings feelings. To better understanding the relation among the visual signs and the others human being feelings, as smell, flavor, touch, sound and also observing the possible relation correspondence among them reflecting on its contribution on the communication process. Inside of each relation are presented synesthesia relation found by many researchers due to studies mainly related to psychodynamics of the colors, form psychology and gestalt, grouped by its relation by color, form, space form and texture. The found synesthesia relations serve as the main parameters to analyze different graphic parts of a recent production such as book covers, posters, packing among others. Considering the great growth of the information that we are submitted, the available medias, the market and the population in general, it is observed the necessity of projects each time more interesting, efficient and worried about the necessities of each market. This research aims to contribute to the determination of the resources which will permit to supply these necessities empowering the graphic design on the function to identify, to inform, to instruct, to present and to promote through a graphic idea.