A Colorful Report: Color Associations in Synesthesia

Abstract: In recent years, academic research on synesthesia, a curious neurological condition, has gained popularity again. Most studies are focusing on its biological evidences, common characteristics and general trends over a population. However, individual special cases are often ignored, in spite of the fact that diversity is one important feature of synesthesia. In this report, we carry out case studies of three participants having color-related synesthesia. By presenting the details of their experiences and analyzing numerical data, we illustrate the uniqueness of their ?settings?, and investigate the underlying principles beneath their coloring schemes. Several key findings are: special lighting and pattern properties, categorization of colors, and localization of colors over color space. We also discuss the concept of ?absolute color?, synesthesia and qualia, and the origin of synesthetic colors.