Questions 31-40

Complete the notes below.

Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.

SYNESTHESIA

The nature of synesthesia

• Psychologists describe synesthesia as a condition in which normally separate 31 become linked.
• When one stimulus produces an additional sensation, this happens 32 rather than through conscious choice.
• People who first discover they have synesthesia often react with 33 when they realise that others do not have the same experiences.

Research into synesthesia

• In one experiment, participants were seated in front of a 34 and shown black letters and numbers.
• The findings suggested that around 1% of the 35 has some form of synesthesia.

Different forms of the condition

• As well as associating colours with letters or numbers, some synesthetes arrange days, months and other symbols 36, for example in lines or circles.
• With word-taste synesthesia, a person’s name may produce the flavour of a particular 37.
• One theory suggests the condition may be strongest during infancy, but this is difficult to investigate because researchers cannot easily obtain 38 from very young babies.

Family connections and creativity

• Synesthesia may not occur in an immediate relative and can sometimes be traced back through earlier 39.
• Researchers suggest that multiple sensory experiences may encourage synesthetes to develop interests in areas such as art or 40.