NEXT TALK: Next talk 31st of October, 7pm - Sesonal mood disorders
Cittie Of Yorke, 22 High Holborn, WC1V 6BN
Synaesthesia: when the senses get mixed
Tuesday, 28th of July 2015
What colour is the number 3? What do words taste like? This might sound strange, but for people with synaesthesia (where the senses get mixed) this is a very real way of perceiving the world. In this talk we will discuss the world of a synaesthete, focusing on the perceptual characteristics of synaesthetic experiences, and mechanisms that induce synaesthesia. We will also explore broader traits associated with synaesthesia (e.g. creativity), and what synaesthesia can teach us about perception in us all.
Michael Banissy is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Goldsmiths, University of London, where he leads the Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation Laboratory. Michael’s research integrates approaches from Experimental Psychology and Neuroscience in order to determine the neuropsychological basis of how we perceive the world. He has worked in several different topics (e.g. synaesthesia, social perception/cognition, music psychology) where he has made a number of discoveries and received international recognition. His funding includes awards from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), European Commission, British Academy, and Royal Society. His work has received considerable public interest including media coverage in leading international media such as BBC, NewScientist, Good Morning America, and Scientific American. He is currently supported by an ESRC Future Research Leader Award exploring the utility of non-invasive brain stimulation as a tool to improve social perception abilities in typical and atypical groups, and by a European Commission grant exploring the neurocognitive basis of creativity.
The answer of the game was: 1 = Red, 2 = Blue, 3 = Green, 4 = Yellow, 5 = Brown, 6 = Orange