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Prevalence, characteristics and a neurocognitive model of mirror-touch synaesthesia
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-07, 18:21 authored by Michael J. Banissy, Roi Cohen Kadosh, Gerrit W. Maus, Vincent Walsh, Jamie WardJamie WardIn so-called 'mirror-touch synaesthesia', observing touch to another person induces a subjective tactile sensation on the synaesthete's own body. It has been suggested that this type of synaesthesia depends on increased activity in neural systems activated when observing touch to others. Here we report the first study on the prevalence of this variant of synaesthesia. Our findings indicate that this type of synaesthesia is just as common, if not more common than some of the more frequently studied varieties of synaesthesia such as grapheme-colour synaesthesia. Additionally, we examine behavioural correlates associated with the condition. In a second experiment, we show that synaesthetic experiences are not related to somatotopic cueing--a flash of light on an observed body part does not elicit the behavioural or subjective characteristics of synaesthesia. Finally, we propose a neurocognitive model to account for these characteristics and discuss the implications of our findings for general theories of synaesthesia.
History
Publication status
- Published
Journal
Experimental Brain ResearchISSN
0014-4819External DOI
Issue
2-3Volume
198Page range
261-272Pages
12.0Department affiliated with
- Psychology Publications
Full text available
- No
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2012-02-06Usage metrics
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