www.nature.com wrote:Synaesthete makes sweet music
Ruth Francis
Professional musician distinguishes intervals with her tongue
A recorder player has fascinated neuroscientists with her ability to taste differences in the intervals between notes.
The condition in which the brain links two or more of the senses is known as synaesthesia, and some sense combinations are relatively common. But this is the first time that the ability has been found to help in performing a mental task, such as identifying a major third.
Elizabeth Sulston was at school when she first noticed that she saw colours while hearing music. She realized that the same was not true of her peers, although linkage of tone and colour is a known synaesthetic combination.
As she began to learn music more formally, she found that when hearing particular tone intervals she experienced a characteristic taste on her tongue. For example, a minor third tasted salty to her, whereas a minor sixth tasted like cream. She started to use the tastes to help her recognize different chords.
Talking to news@nature.com, she says: "I always had the synaesthesia, but really became conscious of it at 16. Then I started to use it for the tone-interval identification. I could first check it by counting the space between the notes, and second by 'feeling' my tongue."
The taste of music
Lutz Jäncke, a neuroscientist at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, works with musicians who report unusual qualities or skills. Thanks to a student investigating synaesthesia he was introduced to the recorder-playing Sulston.
To test her unique ability, he and his colleagues played tone intervals while delivering different tastes to her tongue. They used either the same taste that Sulston associates with an interval, or a clashing one (see box).
They found that she was able to identify the intervals much more quickly when the taste matched the one that she says she normally associates with it. That kind of pattern would be difficult to fake, Jäncke says. He reports the results in Nature1.
"With incongruent taste she was sometimes slower than other musicians; she is extraordinarily quick usually," he says. "The synaesthesia is kind of boosting her performance. Her hit rate was perfect, but the difference was in the reaction times."
Learning analogue
When asked whether Sulston's ability has any wider implications for neuroscience, Jäncke laughs. "This is the million-dollar question!" he says.
"One might speculate that this could be a good analogue for learning: our skills are improved if we associate the item we learn with many other items. It may also demonstrate that synaesthesia may be modified for learning and used for other things."
For Sulston herself, the benefit comes simply from the way that she experiences music. "I can imagine that someone who has no synaesthetic perception does not have such an intense sensation as I do when listening to music," she says.
"Music is richer. It is difficult to say whether I would have become a musician if I was not synaesthetic.
Beyond Perfect Pitch
Moderator: Beowulf
Beyond Perfect Pitch
Can you taste the different musical intervals? Elizabeth Sulston can.
"On the infrequent occasions when I have been called upon in a formal place to play the bongo drums, the introducer never seems to find it necessary to mention that I also do theoretical physics." -Richard Feynman
Cool. Synaethesia is a pretty fascinating subject.
It may or may not be related, but I feel sound more than I hear it, while it makes understanding voice a little harder than it is for others, it makes me very sensitive to music, namely frequency and tone. I also somewhat sense it as a mind's eye visualization of the components of the song, but that is probably normal for a lot of musically minded people.
It may or may not be related, but I feel sound more than I hear it, while it makes understanding voice a little harder than it is for others, it makes me very sensitive to music, namely frequency and tone. I also somewhat sense it as a mind's eye visualization of the components of the song, but that is probably normal for a lot of musically minded people.
"Freak on a leash! Freak on a leash!"
- Ace Pace
- Hardware Lover
- Posts: 8456
- Joined: 2002-07-07 03:04am
- Location: Wasting time instead of money
- Contact:
Same, I feel musical notes as if the instrument was somewhere in my body, or its just me being weird.Hyperion wrote:Cool. Synaethesia is a pretty fascinating subject.
It may or may not be related, but I feel sound more than I hear it, while it makes understanding voice a little harder than it is for others, it makes me very sensitive to music, namely frequency and tone. I also somewhat sense it as a mind's eye visualization of the components of the song, but that is probably normal for a lot of musically minded people.
Anyways, very intresting article.
Brotherhood of the Bear | HAB | Mess | SDnet archivist |
- Ghost Rider
- Spirit of Vengeance
- Posts: 27779
- Joined: 2002-09-24 01:48pm
- Location: DC...looking up from the gutters to the stars
Certainly a fascinating point.
It gives the idea that sound can affect the person the other sense or at least on other.
And Brungardt...DON'T SPAM
It gives the idea that sound can affect the person the other sense or at least on other.
And Brungardt...DON'T SPAM
MM /CF/WG/BOTM/JL/Original Warsie/ACPATHNTDWATGODW FOREVER!!
Sometimes we can choose the path we follow. Sometimes our choices are made for us. And sometimes we have no choice at all
Saying and doing are chocolate and concrete
Sometimes we can choose the path we follow. Sometimes our choices are made for us. And sometimes we have no choice at all
Saying and doing are chocolate and concrete
What I find particularly interesting is that her condition developed from the way perfect pitch normally works, with associating certain pitches with matching colours. I know quite a few people who have perfect pitch who have tried to explain the exact shade of green that Bb has, for example, so that's not all that strange to me. But that continue on to include taste as well?! That's crazy! And awesome! I want to be able to do that too! ...Ah well, I'll just have to be content with working on my relative pitch skills and rock out on them.
"On the infrequent occasions when I have been called upon in a formal place to play the bongo drums, the introducer never seems to find it necessary to mention that I also do theoretical physics." -Richard Feynman
- Tinkerbell
- Jedi Master
- Posts: 1487
- Joined: 2004-10-24 01:04pm
- Location: Neverland
Wow. That is truely awesome. I with I could do that.
:begins training:
:begins training:
Darth Wong wrote:The American "family values" agenda is simple: alter the world so that you can completely ignore your child and still be confident that he is receiving the same kind of Christian upbringing that you would give him if you weren't busy.
I don't know if you can train for it... I thought it was inborn.
Nitram, slightly high on cough syrup: Do you know you're beautiful?
Me: Nope, that's why I have you around to tell me.
Nitram: You -are- beautiful. Anyone tries to tell you otherwise kill them.
"A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP" -- Leonard Nimoy, last Tweet
Me: Nope, that's why I have you around to tell me.
Nitram: You -are- beautiful. Anyone tries to tell you otherwise kill them.
"A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP" -- Leonard Nimoy, last Tweet
- Tinkerbell
- Jedi Master
- Posts: 1487
- Joined: 2004-10-24 01:04pm
- Location: Neverland
:bashes Tevar on the head:
SHHHHHHH!!!!!
You CAN train for it damnit!!
SHHHHHHH!!!!!
You CAN train for it damnit!!
Darth Wong wrote:The American "family values" agenda is simple: alter the world so that you can completely ignore your child and still be confident that he is receiving the same kind of Christian upbringing that you would give him if you weren't busy.
*rubs head... then gives XBF a look as she gets out her hammer*xBlackFlash wrote::bashes Tevar on the head:
SHHHHHHH!!!!!
You CAN train for it damnit!!
Weelllll... if you insist, I can help you learn associations....
Nitram, slightly high on cough syrup: Do you know you're beautiful?
Me: Nope, that's why I have you around to tell me.
Nitram: You -are- beautiful. Anyone tries to tell you otherwise kill them.
"A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP" -- Leonard Nimoy, last Tweet
Me: Nope, that's why I have you around to tell me.
Nitram: You -are- beautiful. Anyone tries to tell you otherwise kill them.
"A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP" -- Leonard Nimoy, last Tweet
- frigidmagi
- Sith Devotee
- Posts: 2962
- Joined: 2004-04-14 07:05pm
- Location: A Nice Dry Place
- Elheru Aran
- Emperor's Hand
- Posts: 13073
- Joined: 2004-03-04 01:15am
- Location: Georgia
- Saurencaerthai
- Jedi Master
- Posts: 1090
- Joined: 2003-04-22 11:33pm
- Location: New England
That's probably the more useful skill, anyhow, as that deals more with the motion of things than individual points in the music.Zaia wrote: ...Ah well, I'll just have to be content with working on my relative pitch skills and rock out on them.
Music can name the un-nameable and communicate with the unknowable.
-Leonard Bernstein
-Leonard Bernstein
- The Yosemite Bear
- Mostly Harmless Nutcase (Requiescat in Pace)
- Posts: 35211
- Joined: 2002-07-21 02:38am
- Location: Dave's Not Here Man
Yeah, but I still envy those perfect-pitch-bitches anyhow. I'd like to be able to do it all, baby.Saurencaerthai wrote:That's probably the more useful skill, anyhow, as that deals more with the motion of things than individual points in the music.Zaia wrote: ...Ah well, I'll just have to be content with working on my relative pitch skills and rock out on them.
"On the infrequent occasions when I have been called upon in a formal place to play the bongo drums, the introducer never seems to find it necessary to mention that I also do theoretical physics." -Richard Feynman
I don't know if you can train for it... I thought it was inborn.
I was reading recently that it's quite hard to cultivate perfect pitch past a certain age. That it is easiest to learn from age 4-7, and past that it's quite difficult.
-Chris Marks
Justice League
They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety.
-Benjamin Franklin
Justice League
They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety.
-Benjamin Franklin
- Saurencaerthai
- Jedi Master
- Posts: 1090
- Joined: 2003-04-22 11:33pm
- Location: New England
I dunno, I've heard some of the perfect-pitch people go batty at everything that is slightly off. Then again, that's only the people who are 100% dead on.Zaia wrote:Yeah, but I still envy those perfect-pitch-bitches anyhow. I'd like to be able to do it all, baby.Saurencaerthai wrote:That's probably the more useful skill, anyhow, as that deals more with the motion of things than individual points in the music.Zaia wrote: ...Ah well, I'll just have to be content with working on my relative pitch skills and rock out on them.
Music can name the un-nameable and communicate with the unknowable.
-Leonard Bernstein
-Leonard Bernstein
- Queeb Salaron
- Jedi Council Member
- Posts: 2337
- Joined: 2003-03-12 12:45am
- Location: Left of center.
You know, I think I might have a similar condition. When I hear Miles Davis, I smell smoky jazz bars and bourbon. When I hear reggae, I smell that herb. Every time I hear a pop diva sing, all I can smell is shit.
Did the article have a hotline I could call?
Did the article have a hotline I could call?
Proud owner of The Fleshlight
G.A.L.E. Force - Bisexual Airborn Division
SDnet Resident Psycho Clown
"I hear and behold God in every object, yet I understand God not in the least, / Nor do I understand who there can be more wonderful than myself."
--Whitman
Fucking Funny.
G.A.L.E. Force - Bisexual Airborn Division
SDnet Resident Psycho Clown
"I hear and behold God in every object, yet I understand God not in the least, / Nor do I understand who there can be more wonderful than myself."
--Whitman
Fucking Funny.
- Queeb Salaron
- Jedi Council Member
- Posts: 2337
- Joined: 2003-03-12 12:45am
- Location: Left of center.
I love playing with people with perfect pitch. Helps me tune easier. "Hey Rita, give me an A."Zaia wrote:[Yeah, but I still envy those perfect-pitch-bitches anyhow. I'd like to be able to do it all, baby.
[tunes accordingly]
Saves me a ton of money on tuners. Besides, she can always tell me when I go out of tune.
Proud owner of The Fleshlight
G.A.L.E. Force - Bisexual Airborn Division
SDnet Resident Psycho Clown
"I hear and behold God in every object, yet I understand God not in the least, / Nor do I understand who there can be more wonderful than myself."
--Whitman
Fucking Funny.
G.A.L.E. Force - Bisexual Airborn Division
SDnet Resident Psycho Clown
"I hear and behold God in every object, yet I understand God not in the least, / Nor do I understand who there can be more wonderful than myself."
--Whitman
Fucking Funny.
- Saurencaerthai
- Jedi Master
- Posts: 1090
- Joined: 2003-04-22 11:33pm
- Location: New England
Here's an easy way to get A440 burned into your head: put some headphones on and connect it to a digital metronome with the tuning note. Flick it on for a split second. After your ears stop ringing, you will never forget the sound of A440. I've accidentally flipped the switch too far a number of times and can now sing back A most of the time.Queeb Salaron wrote:I love playing with people with perfect pitch. Helps me tune easier. "Hey Rita, give me an A."Zaia wrote:[Yeah, but I still envy those perfect-pitch-bitches anyhow. I'd like to be able to do it all, baby.
[tunes accordingly]
Saves me a ton of money on tuners. Besides, she can always tell me when I go out of tune.
Music can name the un-nameable and communicate with the unknowable.
-Leonard Bernstein
-Leonard Bernstein
-
- Sith Marauder
- Posts: 3690
- Joined: 2005-01-06 12:35am
- Location: Oregon, the land of trees and rain!
Absolutely beautiful... A sense I wish that I had.
Though imagine if brown noise were a taste, woosh!
Though imagine if brown noise were a taste, woosh!
"The rest of the poem plays upon that pun. On the contrary, says Catullus, although my verses are soft (molliculi ac parum pudici in line 8, reversing the play on words), they can arouse even limp old men. Should Furius and Aurelius have any remaining doubts about Catullus' virility, he offers to fuck them anally and orally to prove otherwise." - Catullus 16, Wikipedia
-
- Sith Devotee
- Posts: 3481
- Joined: 2002-07-09 12:51pm
If I were her, I'd not like to hear/play Stravinsky ragtime music.Table 1 Tasting the tones
These are the tastes experienced by Sulston in response to hearing different tone intervals. The fourth and tritone intervals elicit visual and emotional responses rather than tastes. The dissonant tone intervals seem to induce unpleasant tastes, whereas the consonant intervals induce pleasant ones.
Minor second: Sour
Major second: Bitter
Minor third : Salty
Major third : Sweet
Fourth: Mown grass
Tritone: Disgust
Fifth: Pure water
Minor sixth: Cream
Major sixth: Low-fat cream
Minor seventh: Bitter
Major seventh: Sour
Octave: No taste
Who's the more foolish, the fool or the fool who follows him? -Obi-Wan Kenobi
"In the unlikely event that someone comes here, hates everything we stand for, and then donates a big chunk of money anyway, I will thank him for his stupidity." -Darth Wong, Lord of the Sith
Proud member of the Brotherhood of the Monkey.
"In the unlikely event that someone comes here, hates everything we stand for, and then donates a big chunk of money anyway, I will thank him for his stupidity." -Darth Wong, Lord of the Sith
Proud member of the Brotherhood of the Monkey.
Cream and low-fat cream? Er...right.
And tritones rock. What the hell is her tongue's problem?!
And tritones rock. What the hell is her tongue's problem?!
"On the infrequent occasions when I have been called upon in a formal place to play the bongo drums, the introducer never seems to find it necessary to mention that I also do theoretical physics." -Richard Feynman