0964704X.2019.pdf (2.66 MB)
The evolution of the concept of synesthesia in the nineteenth century as revealed through the history of its name
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-10, 03:52 authored by Jörg Jewanski, Julia SimnerJulia Simner, Sean A Day, Nicolas Rothen, Jamie WardJamie WardSynesthesia is a rare perceptual condition causing unusual sensations, which are triggered by the stimulation of otherwise unrelated modalities (e.g., the sensation of colors triggered when listening to music). In addition to the name it takes today, the condition has had a wide variety of designations throughout its scientific history. These different names have also been accompanied by shifting boundaries in its definition, and the literature has undergone a considerable process of change in the development of a term for synesthesia, starting with “obscure feeling” in 1772, and ending with the first emergence of the true term “synesthesia” or “synæsthesiæ” in 1892. In this article, we will unpack the complex history of this nomenclature; provide key excerpts from central texts, in often hard-to-locate sources; and translate these early passages and terminologies into English.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Published version
Journal
Journal of the History of the NeurosciencesISSN
0964-704XPublisher
Informa UK LimitedExternal DOI
Issue
3Volume
29Page range
259-285Event location
EnglandDepartment affiliated with
- Psychology Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes