Synesthesia and memory: an exploratory analysis

Author

Caleb Robinson, Ball State University

Periodical Title

Modern Psychological Studies

Volume

21

Number

1

Page Numbers

pages 79-87

Department

Dept. of Psychology

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Date

2015

Abstract

Few studies have measured how the memory of individuals with synesthesia, a perceptual phenomenon in which a stimulus triggers a separate sensory experience, is affected because of their novel perceptual experiences. The studies that have examined synesthesia and enhanced memory have been inconclusive, as some have found those with synesthesia exhibit superior memory capabilities, while other studies have not. This study sought to replicate previous studies that have found effects of color congruency. The participant M.P., a female with grapheme-color synesthesia, was given lists of words that were either congruent to her synesthetic experience, random colors, or words in black ink, then tested over her memory for the lists. Results were then compared to mean scores of a control group (n = 15). Results indicate a deviation from the hypothesis, as M.P. did not exhibit superior memory for congruent information, but rather a potentially enhanced ability to suppress color information.

Subject

Psychology

Discipline

Psychology

Document Type

article

DCMI Type

Text

Extent

9 leaves

Language

English

Call Number

BF1 .M63 v. 21 no. 1 2015

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Recommended Citation

Robinson, Caleb (2015) "Synesthesia and memory: an exploratory analysis," Modern Psychological Studies: Vol. 21: No. 1, Article 11.
Available at: https://scholar.utc.edu/mps/vol21/iss1/11