Friday evening at the Library of Congress, our ongoing “Music and the Brain” lecture series will tackle a truly fascinating phenomenon: people whose senses sometimes cross-stimulate, causing them to “hear a color” or “taste a shape.” This phenomenon, known as synesthesia, has been identified in a surprisingly large number of people over the years, including musicians as varied as Leonard Bernstein, Duke Ellington and Stevie Wonder.
Dr. Richard E. Cytowic of George Washington University Medical Center will deliver the talk, “Wednesday is Indigo Blue: Discovering the Brain of Synesthesia” at 6:15 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30 in the Members’ Room on the first floor of the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building at 10 First St. S.E. After the talk, he’ll sign his book on the topic.
October 28, 2009 at 5:44 pm
I fall astonished,after many years where I can’t identificate wich were the phenomenon that in my brain music,principally the so called clasical,and overall Beethoven,make me feel how if I have a taste of something like to delicious fruit who made me the mouth in water.It is the first time who I hear or read about this phenomenon.Many thanks.
December 4, 2009 at 3:30 pm
The webcast of this lecture is available for viewing at the following link: http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=4771