How synesthesia can help language learning

Synesthesia is a rare neurological condition that causes people to experience their senses differently. While it has been associated with various neurodevelopmental conditions, synesthesia itself is not considered a disorder. In fact, synesthesia has been found to have a number of benefits when it comes to memory and learning. Language learning, in particular, is supposed to be considerably easier for people living with this condition.

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Common manifestation

The condition can manifest itself in a number of ways, but one of the most common is to see letters, numbers, or sounds as colors.

Life with synesthesia

People with synesthesia–sometimes referred to as synesthetes–may also taste words, or even feel a touch when someone else is being touched.

Associated conditions

Synesthesia has been associated with various neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions, such as autism, anxiety, and schizophrenia.

Not a disorder

However, synesthesia itself is not considered a neurological disorder. In fact, it has been found to have several benefits, particularly when it comes to memory and learning.

Many variations

There are various different types of synesthesia; to date, around 60 different variations have been identified.

However, experts believe that there may be more than 100 variations, with some individuals experiencing more than one type.

What causes synesthesia?

Researchers believe that the condition is caused by genetically inherited traits that affect the structural and functional development of the brain.

Synesthesia and language learning

New research shows, however, that synesthesia may be particularly beneficial when it comes to learning a second language.

The Sussex experiment

The team at the Multisense Synesthesia Research laboratory tested around 6,000 children aged between six and 10 years old.

Results

The study found that the children with synesthesia were stronger in a number of language-learning skills than the children who did not have synesthesia.

Interpreting the results

According to the director of the study, the results are clear: a child with synesthesia may well be expected to find it easier to learn a second language.

First artificial language

In this experiment, participants were asked to listen to a set of nonsense words that represented an artificial language.

Distinguishing between the two

The participants, some of whom had grapheme-color synesthesia (i.e. association of a color with a symbol like letters and numbers), were then asked to distinguish 'words' from the two artificial languages.

Advantage in statistical learning

According to the study’s authors, this serves as evidence that people with grapheme-color synesthesia have a significant advantage when it comes to statistical learning.

The secondary cue

People who experience patterns with more than one sense have the benefit of a secondary cue to help them remember or recognize a pattern.

The secondary cue in action

You may not immediately remember the French word for "apple," for example, but if your brain remembers that the word is red, this can help jog your memory.

Can be overwhelming

Even for those people who do, sometimes it can be very overwhelming to experience the world as a constant cacophony of senses.