What is synesthesia?

Synesthesia is a condition where a person experiences a blending of sensory perceptions that are typically experienced separately. For example, a synesthete might see specific colors when they hear certain musical notes or associate particular shapes with numbers. This phenomenon is not due to the influence of substances like psychedelics; it is a natural perceptual characteristic that some people have. For instance, some synesthetes might perceive the musical note E-flat as an amber color, and each note might have its own distinct color association. These unique sensory blends do not necessarily enhance abilities related to the blended senses, such as musical talent or color perception; they are simply a different way of experiencing sensory information 1 2.