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Is there is a burden attached to synaesthesia? Health screening of synaesthetes in the general population
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-20, 14:17 authored by Duncan A Carmichael, Rebecca SmeesRebecca Smees, Richard C Shillcock, Julia SimnerJulia SimnerSynaesthesia has long been considered a benign alternative form of perception most often associated with positive rather than negative outcomes. The condition has been associated with a variety of cognitive and perceptual advantages, including benefits in memory, processing speed, and creativity. It is not currently recognized in the DSM-IV. Recently, however, several studies have raised the question of a possible link between synaesthesia and clinical conditions. Here, we present the first large-scale screening of the general population in which we (1) objectively identified grapheme-colour synaesthetes and (2) elicited information from our participants about a range of clinical conditions. We compared the prevalence rates of these conditions in synaesthetes versus non-synaesthetes to establish whether any conditions were found at a higher rate among synaesthetes. In our initial study, screening 3,742 people (95 synaesthetes and 3,647 controls), we found initially that grapheme-colour was significantly comorbid with two conditions (anxiety disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder). In our second study, screening a new population of 120 synaesthetes and 166 non-synaesthetes, we replicated our finding that grapheme-colour synaesthesia is comorbid with anxiety disorder. At the same time, we also addressed a methodological concern that likely elevated rates of OCD in Study 1. We consider the aetiology of synaesthesia to determine whether there may be a shared genetic or neurological basis with anxiety disorder, and we question the status of synaesthesia within a mental health framework.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
British Journal of PsychologyISSN
0007-1269Publisher
WileyExternal DOI
Issue
3Volume
110Page range
530-548Department affiliated with
- Psychology Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2018-10-09First Open Access (FOA) Date
2019-10-03First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2018-10-07Usage metrics
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