Synesthesia – the crossing and merging of two or more senses, like color and sounds, is an interesting phenomenon. Some manifestations are more common or others^[1]; these are essentially a breakdown of what would normally be subconscious processing. This isn’t that rare; some forms of synesthesia are in ~2% of the population. So far 54 different types have been identified. 

Most synesthetic individuals describe this extra information as unhelpful, even if it sounds cool. I imagine it might be a little like tripping- but distracting when grocery shopping. Studies show it slows reaction times -maybe from needing to sift the extraneous details. (People who’ve grown up with this extra detail naturally don’t know they are different until someone points out they are “slow” or “retarded” (usually said over their heads to a parent.)

Sometimes those with synesthesia have been described as “unintelligent”.

Normally we wouldn’t be aware of these correlations – how the brain crosses these signals -whether by natural proximity, reductions in myelination, or actively suppressed mapping between the senses– unless released by genetics or drugs. The problem is – you don’t know if you have it – you just do. With drugs, the effect wears off.

Synesthesia can be enhanced by fatigue and stress in those who try to suppress it; and increased by those who wish to, by meditative processes.

(I wonder if this is like “The Giver” though, when everyone else agreed to ‘forget’ about color and emotions- instead experiencing the world in all grays.)

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I was musing about the frequency 432 Hz that’s analogous to the Schumann frequency for a force that might affect us subconsciously more than we’re aware. Instead of synesthesia – we’re all immersed in it.

Some refer to it as the “heartbeat” of the earth, but on the NASA website, it’s from an atmospheric summation of all the lightening in the air (apparently the around 2000 storms at any given moment- mostly over Asia, Africa, and South America^[2]) that creates the energy of a standing wave, vibrating at the frequency ring(s) relating to multiples of earth’s circumference- 7.8hz. 

So I guess it’s more the heartbeat of the sky, at least from that perspective, since it varies with presence or absence of solar radiation and according to seasons (both processes affect the ionosphere’s thickness and density). Though whether it’s the sky or the earth’s heartbeat, may prove to be a classic chicken or egg question.

On PubMed, from the National Library of Medicine, there are a several studies of well-designed double blind placebo-controlled trials measuring the effect of 432, vs 440 tuned music.

Compared to music tuned to 440hs, music tuned to 432 resulted in significant lowering of pulse and respiratory rate, with trends to lower blood pressure (systolic and diastolic); another study showed significant improvements in sleep scores in a (small) study of para- and quadriplegics on a spinal trauma unit.

Could immersing oneself in music that is all modulation from a central sharper tone be affecting us subconsciously?

It is said, for those with chromesthesia, that when they hear the note of A, tuned to 432 they might see a particular shade^[3]of a color which tends to be consistent over time or was, until the music industry switched to using A=440. This essentially makes each note sharper. As a consequence, this shifts their entire experienced color scale to the left, just a smidge? 

Now I have nothing against 440, but just suppose the 432 is significant- being in accordance to the natural resonance of earth and all. When exposed to 432, the senses will each in their way, be harmonically stimulated- along with each note’s particular overtones and undertones.

Like chords in music with their intervals, some color combinations are calming, and others stimulating. Do these patterns get re-imagined then all over the brain…just we don’t “know” it normally?

People with chromesthesia listening to rock music often describe lots of reds and blacks in their color portrait of the sound; with classical there are blues and greens. With ease, there’s more flow; with agitation there is a sense of pushing and driving. Over time, with repetition you create facilitation (enhanced synaptic responsiveness). Does that make it harder to switch (emotional) gears? (I’d guess “yes” witnessing myself and children feeling angry after listening to certain types of rock music stay angry more of the time.)

It doesn’t seem too surprising (to me) that top 40 music is so limited in range, compared to alternative music. Driving, dissonant music keeps everyone ‘seeing red’ and angry- for real^[4].

Why worry about HAARP (High frequency Active Aural Research Program – a government experiment to emit frequencies to “calm” the masses in the event of a catastrophe)- when you’re doing it to yourself?!

Even if that momentary dopamine surge feels good, don’t do it other than as a treat.

You create addiction- dopamine-seeking behavior which distracts from having your heart is something.

As we merge more with technology, are we de-training our senses. We favor exposure for particular frequencies out of the context of nature. WHo doesn’t love a pop of color, but as our skin tones are neutral dressing in artificial colors oversaturates particular receptor or undersaturates others; in time, and with continued exposure to the imbalance, it adjusts. THis is why natural scenery can seem unexciting to a jaded eye.

How does this effect those with word color synesthesia- especially if immersed in a sea of harsh tones?

Did you know, in nature, the only time there’s a large amount of red – is when there’s fresh kill. A body seeing this has an immediate involuntary fight of flight reaction. No wonder wearing a red dress is so exciting and manipulative.

Consider how a body shifts from natural continuous spectrum by our frequent if not continuous exposure to the (artificial) digital?

Is this why so many have become more “sensitive” to their (work and home) environments? Have we become over-exposed to ‘edges’ previously unseen^[5]?

For these reasons, it seems quite wise not to promote western top 40s music, in places where there’s already cultural unrest brewing.

Like listening to live (analog) music has been shown to improve moods and sense of well being, we now “know” that going out into nature will stimulate the brain (and body) to have the similar effect of lowered vital signs- meaning we objectively feel and are calmer.

Outside in the natural environment, the colors we see are natural hues and variants of jewel-tones, presented on a continuous spectrum and vary with diurnal lighting and season. At any time of year, the range of outside light is vast compared to anything incandescent, let alone LED.

The fine-tuning of the spectrum seems related to being female, as women on the whole, see more colors than men.

So three direct benefits of being outside (while not wearing earplugs): one is exposed to the continuous spectrum of natural colors- instead of clipped and packaged Fourier digital frequency packets. Stepping on the ground is immediately anti-static; (as in grounding)- excess electrons flow off of you; and we can physically be more in the experience of this Shumann frequency that seems to be physiologically good!

That said, if you have a big effect going outside, you’re probably living in a lot of dissonance. (You might want to take a look at that.)

[When my spouse, a type-A surgeon, asked for a divorce, I hoped that my leaving would bring him outside more -to do the yard work that I was no longer doing). Being in a hospital with eyes and body immersed in artificial lighting in addition to having highly processed diet, his lifestyle was unhealthy. At least in my opinion, though his ‘doctors’ never queried any causes to his inflammatory diagnoses.

After our divorce, he did, and you know what, he IS really enjoying that! (And his health is objectively better!)- granted it could be being freed from me too.

Sure, many of us might not notice a thing being askew, but the facts are our body evolved in accordance to our lineages’ natural surroundings for thousands of years.

Mashallah Habibi.

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^[1]So far well documented and studied: grapheme – color synesthesia (words have colors). Chromesthesia- sounds have colors, shapes, or movements.

Auditory Tactile (strong sensations from sounds – I get this with particular music- intense involuntary tingling down my spine), ordinal linguistic personification (association of a personality to individual letters, numbers, days – (which helps to remember them). Misophonia -unusual emotional response to sounds like nausea from clicking- (I get this with Legos).

Mirror-touch synesthesia – when someone touches their body, you feel it in yours. This can be good and bad, though it can make you a bit ‘mad’ if someone’s itching themselves; is the definition of “sympathetic”. Lexical –gustatory lets you taste words. Doesn’t everyone get a metallic taste when you say acrimony? With kinesthetic synesthesia your body thinks its doing what it sees another is doing..even if you’re just sitting. It’s facilitating the same pathways in your brain.

So of us can see past, present, and future all at once- like a natural seer- when a situation person, place or thing is important to them or important to their “focus”. These folks, like me, need learn to become centered in the present and now; to focus so as to create coherence. Learn how to read a book line-by-line instead of cover to cover.

^[2]Maybe their land formations connect more directly to earth’s magnetic core beckoning the energy?

^[3]The actual color assignments were idiosyncratic- they varied between observers but stayed the same with each participant over time.

^[4]Most rock concert music makes me edgy- and uncomfortable; I want to move to let the music go through me – rather than just sitting in it. Being in an assigned chair where you can’t move… is torture. No wonder it’s so easy to sell alcohol at concert venues!

^[5]After a few (3) days of trying to sort my son’s Legos (I was being a control freak…I know), I became strongly sensitized to the particular sound of clicking they make when they bump together. Now that clicking sound just about drives me batty – like hearing nails on chalk, I get a weird gnawing sensation in my head just thinking about them. This is an example of misophonia.