The golden age of synesthesia inquiry in the late nineteenth century 1876 1895.pdf (2.7 MB)
The ‘Golden Age’ of synesthesia inquiry in the late Nineteenth Century (1876–1895)
Version 2 2023-06-12, 09:09
Version 1 2023-06-09, 18:16
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-12, 09:09 authored by Jörg Jewanski, Julia SimnerJulia Simner, Sean A Day, Nicolas Rothen, Jamie WardJamie WardSynesthesia is a rare neurological trait that causes unusual, often cross-sensory, experiences (e.g., seeing colors when listening to music). This article traces the history of synesthesia in the period 1876 to 1895. In this period, there was considerable debate over the nature of synesthesia, its causes, and how it should be named. The issue also attracted the leading thinkers of the time and, within a few years, the number of reported cases of synesthesia jumped from around ten to more than 100. For this reason, this period can be regarded as the “golden age” for synesthesia research in the nineteenth century. In this time, scientists debated whether synesthesia was a form of pathology or an alternative manifestation of intelligence. The differing roles of heredity and environment were contested, and there were several explanations proposed as to its neural basis. These enquiries went to the heart of the debate as to whether synesthetic experiences are special in any way or, instead, a more vivid manifestation of a more general capacity for forming associations.
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Publication status
- Published
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- Published version
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Journal of the History of the NeurosciencesISSN
0964-704XPublisher
Taylor & FrancisExternal DOI
Department affiliated with
- Psychology Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2019-07-02First Open Access (FOA) Date
2019-08-08First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2019-07-01Usage metrics
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