Would you like to take part in research? Here are some studies that are looking for participants.
Uploaded 23 September 2023
Researching Synesthesia at the IT University in Copenhagen, Denmark
Hi everyone, I am (along with two friends) researching synesthesia this semester. We would really like to talk with some folks who have synesthesia to better understand the concept in practice and how it works/affects you in your daily lives. We are interested in both folks with an 'extreme'/high level of synesthesia as well as folks experiencing it at a smaller scale. Are you up for answering a few questions either written or via video chat? Then please contact me, either in a comment here and we can chat - or via email to laau@itu.dk.
Uploaded 18 July 2023
Processing Speed, Headaches, and Introversion: An Investigation of New Synesthetic Connections
Opened: July 2023
Looking for: Synesthetes and non-synesthetes
Format: Online Survey
Survey link:
https://qfreeaccountssjc1.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7UtwqYuO8CDVZCS
More info:
This study seeks to observe correlations between synesthesia and both physical and cognitive components of human experience. This particular survey focuses on three components: headaches, introversion/extroversion, and processing speed. While many studies have investigated correlations between synesthesia and other aspects of human behavior, such as sense of direction, these components have not yet been studied with such depth. This study compares synesthetes with non-synesthetes in regard to their potential correlations to these given traits. The survey is short, taking between approximately five to ten minutes to complete.
Type of Research: Student Research
Researcher: Lila Boutin
Uploaded 31 December 2022
Opened: July 2022. Ongoing
Looking for: Synesthetes and non-synesthetes.
For: A citizen science study on human perception, one of the largest ever undertaken.
Type of research: University research
Based at: The University of Sussex, The University of
Glasgow, and Collective Act
Researchers: Coordinated by Prof. Jamie Ward
More info:
“Do you see what I see? #ThePerceptionCensus is
one of the largest citizen science studies on human perception ever undertaken.
Check out this video, and discover more (and sign up) here.
It may seem to us that we experience the world ‘as it is’,
but in fact we each inhabit a unique, personalised ‘inner universe’. Just as we
all differ on the outside, we all differ on the inside too. But our perceptual experiences differ
everywhere, all the time. Do you see the same blue sky that I see? Maybe – but
maybe not. Because we often use the same words to describe things, the
perceptual diversity among us has remained largely hidden from view.
Until now! #ThePerceptionCensus is an ambitious new citizen
science study developed to map out, for the first time, the unique ways in
which we each experience the world.
With your help, we’re anticipating this will be the largest study of its
kind ever undertaken. If enough people take part, we will transform our
understanding of how and why we each experience the world differently.
By taking part, you’ll be invited to complete a series of
fun, interactive and engaging tasks, exploring themes such as colour, illusion,
time, sound and music, and more. The
full study involves ten different sections, each exploring different aspects of
perception and its diversity among us. Today we are launching the core section
– The Fundamentals of Perception – along with three others: Sound and Music,
Body and Belief, and Time. Further sections of the Census will be released
during the summer, covering many other topics, such as how our brain’s
expectations influence what we perceive.
Every response we get is hugely valuable. And the more
sections you finish, the more we’ll discover, together, about the fascinating
diversity of our minds. (Note the Census is for 18+, check out
https://lbq.dreamachine.world if you're younger!)
Each section of the Census takes no more than 20 minutes
(usually less), and you’ll learn a great deal about your own powers of
perception along the way. All you need is your own desktop/laptop device, and
just a little bit of time.
We would love to have more people with synaesthesia be a part of the project."
Prof. Jamie Ward, School of Psychology, University of Sussex
Video about The Perception Census
Uploaded: 10 December 2022
Opened: December 2022. Still open.
Looking for: Synesthetes and non-synesthetes.
“Experiences of pain-related synaesthesia”
Format: Online survey
Type of Research: University research
Based at: University of Bath, UK
Researcher: Dr. Janet Bultitude, Abi Smith
More info:
“Survey on pain-related synaesthesia
(Updated 16 Dec 2022)
Uploaded: 21 July 2022
Opened: September 2017. Ongoing.
Looking for: Looking mostly for synesthetes who experience synesthesia in emotional situations (ex. sex, labor, music listening, meditation etc.) and/or who experience other "special experiences" like impression of presence, telepathy, out-of-body experiences, etc.
“Synesthesia related to emotional states”
Format: Zoom interview + questionnaires to complete
Type of Research: Ph.D thesis (neuropsychology)
Based at: UQÀM (Université du Québec à Montréal), Montréal
Researchers: Cathy Lebeau; François Richer, Ph.D (advisor)
More info:
“Hello,
I am a grapheme-color synesthete and, as part of my doctoral thesis, I am studying the links between synesthesia and special states of consciousness. I am currently writing my latest paper and I am always looking for participants with synesthesia in emotionally intense situations (sexual intercourse, listening to music, childbirth etc.) or with special states (dissociations, out-of-body experiences, premonitions, hypersensitivity, telepathy). If you are interested in participating, you can write to directly on the research project address: synesthesieuqam@hotmail.com."
Uploaded: 6 July 2022
Opened: July 2022.
Looking for: Participants 18 years or older to take part in an online psychology experiment.
“The MULTISENSE Synaesthesia Toolkit”
For: Online survey
Based at: University of Sussex, UK
Researchers: Ana Nogueira, Prof. Julia Simner
More info: “This psychology test takes around 15-20 minutes to complete. It consists of some story reading and questionnaires about your everyday experience.
Thank you. Your participation is much appreciated!
NB: This works on desktop and laptops, cannot view on mobile.”
Uploaded: 22 February 2022
Opened: February 2022. Open until the end of March.
Looking for: Synesthetes and non-synesthetes (anyone 18 or over and able to read, write, and speak English fluently can participate).
“Colourful Characters and Creative Personalities: Exploring the Neurobiological Links of Synaesthesia”
For: Online survey
Type of research: Undergraduate thesis
Based at: Department of Psychology, Trent University, Peterborough, ON. Canada
Researchers: Jennifer Stevenson, Dr. Neil M. Fournier
More info:
“You are invited to participate in a study that will examine multi-sensory perception and several aspects of neurocognition and personality.
We are interested in understanding how the brain might be involved in synaesthetic perception and experiences. We believe that this unusual sensory perception arises because some individuals possess greater activity in parts of the brain called the temporal lobes, which are involved with language, emotion, and memory. People who possess higher levels of temporal lobe sensitivity tend to be more creative, imaginative and are more inclined to attach intense meaningfulness to their experiences. We believe that these individuals might be more prone to experience synaesthesia.
We anticipate that the study will take approximately 40-60 minutes to complete. At the end of the study, you will have an option to participate in a draw for a chance to win one of four $25.00 (CAD) VISA gift cards.”
Uploaded: 29 January 2022
Opened: January 2022. Still open
Looking for: Synesthetes, particularly those with chromesthesia (music-colour, pitch-colour, music-shape, etc.), and also non-synesthetes.
“Do we see music? An investigation of audio-visual associations”
For: Online survey (40-question survey / Synesthesia Battery Test)
Type of research: Undergraduate honours thesis project
Based at: McMaster University, Canada
Researcher: Tessa Bray; supervisors: Drs. Mayu Nishimura and Daphne Maurer
More info: “Through this study we are hoping to investigate whether synesthetic processing is fundamentally different from non-synesthetes, or whether it is an extension of biases in audio-visual associations that exist in all individuals. To answer this question, we want to know whether participants can identify drawings made by others in response to music clips. Specifically, we hope to examine whether this matching is possible when the drawings are made by non- synesthetes and by individuals with music-colour synesthesia. Comparing audio-visual associations in synesthetes to those of the general population will allow us to gain a greater understanding of multisensory perception.
The survey consists of 40 questions. Each question will require you to listen to a short music clip and select, between two images, the one you believe best represents the music you heard. The music clips comprise a variety of short instrumental recordings, and the images are all abstract drawings created by music-colour synesthetes or non-synesthetes.”
Uploaded: 20 January 2022
Opened: January 2022. Still open
Looking for: Synesthetes with touch-to-vision (touch-colour) or other touch-evoked synesthetic experiences.
For: Online survey
Type of research: University Research Study
Based at: University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Researcher: Romke Rouw
More info: “We are setting up a study on touch-to-vision synesthesia. We are particularly interested in color experiences evoked by touching a surface, or exploring an object or surface it with your hands (e.g., touching something soft gives a light-blue color). But we are also interested to learn about other types of (touch-evoked) synesthetic experiences!
If you (might) recognize this, or have related experiences, could you help us out by filling out a questionnaire? It is online and takes about 20 to 30 minutes.”
Uploaded: 7 January 2022
Opened: January 2022. Now closed.
Looking for: People who have synesthesia and misophonia, and also those who don’t.
For: Online survey
Type of research: Master’s dissertation for Postgraduate degree
Based at: Anglia Ruskin University, UK
Researcher: Ella Staines
More info: “Previous research has displayed these three conditions (synaesthesia, misophonia and ASMR) to be connected in some way, but there are still gaps in the research. Therefore, I wish to see if ASMR has any kind of impact upon the wellbeing of those that experience synaesthesia and misophonia.
I’d be really grateful if anyone could take part! I find these research areas so interesting and want to find out more.”
Uploaded: 15 December 2021
Opened: December 2021. Still open
Looking for: Synesthetes and non-synesthetes,
“Assessing Music-Color Association in People With and Without Synesthesia”
For: Survey
Type of research: Studying similarities and differences in synesthetes' and non-synesthetes colour assignations to pieces of music.
Based at: Royal Conservatoire Antwerp, Belgium
Researcher: Umut Eldem
More info: “I am a composer and a PhD researcher at the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp, Belgium. For my research on synaesthesia, I am currently doing an online study, for which I am looking for participants.
In this experiment, you will be asked to listen to some music fragments, and pick a color that “goes well” with that music. (The closest color to your synaesthetic response if you experience it with music; if not, whichever color you feel fits the excerpt.) There are also some questions about your musical/personal profile. Participating takes ~30 minutes.
I would be very, very happy for any participation, as well as sharing the study! The more the better.”
Opened: Already open but sent to the Synesthesia List in November 2021. Open until Easter 2022 approx.
Looking for: Synesthetes living in the UK or who can travel easily to southern England; male synesthetes particularly (although women are also welcome); people who have multiple types of synesthesia are preferred
For: Online questionnaires and tests; Brain scan at Sussex University
Type of research: Creating a repository of high definition brain images
(MRI) from people with synaesthesia
Based at: Sussex University, UK
Researchers: Jamie Ward
More info:
“We are looking for the brains of synaesthetes!
Would you like images of your brain to be used by researchers to help our understanding of synaesthesia? Are you in the UK, or planning to visit it? If so, read on….
What is the 100 brains project?
This is a major project that I hope will create a lasting legacy for researchers in the field that we term the '100 brains project'. Our ultimate ambition is to have a repository of high definition brain images (MRI) from people with synaesthesia that can be accessed by scientists around the world (anonymised, of course). This 'connectomics' approach is being applied to account for a wide variety of differences in brain function. We will be bringing synaesthesia to this global initiative.
Who can take part?
We are potentially interested in all kinds of synaesthesia, provided we can test for it. Some of you will have test scores from previous research (e.g. Eagleman battery) that we can use. We are particularly keen in recruiting people who have multiple types of synaesthesia. At present, we have recruited more women than men – so we are particularly keen to hear from male synaesthetes (but women are still welcome too!).
The biggest barrier to research participation will be location. You will have to travel to Brighton in the UK (1 hour from London). We can assist with travel costs, but can only realistically afford a 3 hour radius. The project is likely to run to Easter, so perhaps some of you will be travelling through the UK and can drop by? We also need to check that you are safe to have MRI.
I’m interested in participating, so what will happen next?
You can email Jamie Ward (jamiew@sussex.ac.uk). If you haven’t previously taken part in our research, then we will check that you have a type of synaesthesia that we can include. Assuming you are eligible to take part then we would ask you to…
1. Complete a set of online questionnaires and tests relating to personality, mental health, and cognitive ability (less than two hours)
2. Have a scan of your brain using MRI at the University of Sussex (less than 1 hour)
For this we can pay you £25, give you a video of your own brain, and offer to cover local travel expenses.
How does it differ from previous research?
Synaesthetes often have many different types but we typically only ever get to know about grapheme-colour. Instead, we ask about a wide variety of types of synaesthesia and, we also get people to take a 2 hour set of questionnaires and tests. So we document a ‘deep’ phenotype both in terms of synaesthesia and associated characteristics (personality, mental health, cognition). The Human Connectome Project uses the state of the art method but, crucially, uses a standardised protocol. So our dataset can grow and can easily be compared with datasets collected by researchers all over the world using the same approach. Our sample size is far larger than reported in most previous studies.
I am a researcher: how can I get involved?
The method and analysis plan are already in the public domain via a pre-registration so you can see what we have planned (https://osf.io/ycqgd/). But there are myriad alternative ways in which this data can be explored. The behavioural data will be available from the OSF and will point to the location of the brain images when they are available (e.g. on openneuro.org). Researchers will be able to access them freely: i.e. no cost, no need to ask permission, and no need for reciprocity (i.e. we do not expect to be co-authors). Other research groups may want to use the same HCP protocol so our datasets can be merged and the sample can continue to grow. N=100 should hopefully be the starting point rather than the end point. At the present time, we scanned almost N=50 synaesthetes so the earliest possible data release would be late 2022.
Best wishes
Jamie"
*********************
Prof. Jamie Ward, School of Psychology, University of Sussex,
Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QH, UK.
Tel: 0044 01273 876598
Sussex Neuroscience: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/sussexneuroscience/
Books: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jamie-Ward/e/B001JRTL8U/
Research: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/synaesthesia
Webpage: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/profiles/92444
Uploaded 9 September 2021
Opened: September 2021. Appears to still be open (Jan '22).
Looking for: Synesthetes and
non-synesthetes
“Synesthesia Graduation Project”
For: Music listening survey
Researcher: Wessel Vlemmings
More info: “I’m creating a project which (in a nutshell) will visually detect an ambiance and convert it to matching music. For my research I’m curious to gauge some insights from synesthetes (and non-synesthetes as well)!
This form consists of 10 audio fragments
of 30 seconds. Can you please describe the mental picture that comes up with
every fragment and the corresponding color(s)?
Thank you for the interest in this
research, I greatly appreciate every single submission!”
Uploaded 17 August 2021
Opened: August 2021.
Looking for: Synesthetes (particularly) and non-synesthetes
Research on whether synesthesia influences ideophone recognition
For: Survey
Type of research: Master’s Degree
Based at: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (Free University Amsterdam), the Netherlands
Researcher: Sonja Vaziri
More info: “Basically, in this (fun) survey, you will have to guess the meanings of different words. There is also an audio clip for every word, and the total survey time is 10-15 minutes. Since there isn't much research done on this, I would really appreciate every single response :) ”
Uploaded 16 July 2021
Opened: July 2021.
Looking for: Synesthetes and non-synesthetes, especially if you have had COVID-19 (but participants who have not had it are also accepted)
“Persistent COVID-19 Effects on Chemical Senses in Synesthetic and Non-Synesthetic Populations”
For: Survey
Type of research: Collecting data on the relation between COVID-19 symptoms and synesthetic experiences
Based at: Texas Lutheran University, USA
Researchers: Linden Williamson, Elissa Avila
More info: “Hi! I am a researcher at Texas Lutheran University working on a synesthesia research team! Currently, I am collecting data on the relation between COVID-19 symptoms and synesthetic experiences. This survey is open to everyone and not just people with synesthesia.
Subjects can expect to take ~15-20 minutes filling out the survey, depending on their response times. If willing to participate, please fill out the consent form before answering the survey questions! Thank you!”
Uploaded 14 July 2021
Opened: 2015 (ongoing study)
Looking for: Synesthetes with other synesthete family members. People with grapheme-colour synesthesia and other types.
“Investigating the genetic basis of synaesthesia”
For: DNA sequencing in families to
search for relevant gene variants. Also recruiting large numbers of unrelated synesthetes
for genome-wide screening.
Type of
research: Synesthesia
genetics research project
Based at: Max Planck Institute for
Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Researchers:
Simon E. Fisher, Amanda Tilot
More
info: "We are
applying the latest genomic methods to search for molecular genetic clues and
to investigate overlaps with other brain-related traits. Our work includes
next-generation DNA sequencing in extended families where multiple relatives
are synaesthetic, across successive generations, to search for rare gene variants
that could have large effects on the trait. In a complementary approach, we are
recruiting large numbers of unrelated people with synaesthesia, to support
genome-wide association screening.
In the
Language and Genetics Department, we are interested in finding the genetic
basis of synaesthesia. Our synaesthesia research program has two branches - a
smaller study focused on families with many synaesthetes, and a large main
study looking at unrelated people with synaesthesia. The two branches help us
to understand synaesthesia genetics from different perspectives.
Family
study: If you think
your family might be a good fit for our synaesthesia families project, please
email us at synaesthesia@mpi.nl. It's ok if your family members have different
types of synaesthesia!
Large
grapheme-colour study:
Our large study focuses on grapheme-colour synaesthesia. The tests ask you to
choose the colour that you associate with Letters/Numbers, Weekdays, or Months.
You do not have to travel to participate. All parts can be completed from home,
anywhere in the world!
Link: Project website
Information sheet for participants
Uploaded 6 July 2021
Looking for: people who have Chromesthesia, or Music-Colour Synesthesia, especially artists/musicians
“An Investigation for the use of a Synaesthetic Model for Arts Based Practice.”
Opened: June 2021. NOW CLOSED!
Format: Survey and Listening Test (online)
Type of
research: Masters
degree thesis.
Based at: Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. Music
& Media Technologies Department.
Researchers:
Matt Winston. Maura
McDonnell
More
info: “If you have
visual experiences of colour when listening to music then your participation in
this study would be of great help. The study involves a listening test and
takes just over 20 mins to complete. I'd really appreciate anyone who could
partake in the test as it will really help out not only my own research, but
could potentially help Synesthesia and arts research in the future. Thanks!”
Link to listening test and survey: here
Uploaded 6 July 2021
Looking for: Instrumentalists, i.e. people who are proficient at playing one or more musical instruments. Synaesthetes and non-synaesthetes welcome.
Opened: February 2021. NOW CLOSED.
“PhD study - Music-Colour Synaesthesia: Sensorimotor Features and Synaesthetic Experience”
Format: Survey and listening test (online)
Type of
research: PhD
study.
Researcher: Caroline Curwen
More info: This study explores the different images and associations that come to mind when listening to music. Part 1: takes 10 minutes and collects some general demographics and information about your musical background. Part 2: takes 30 minutes and asks you to report on your experiences of 12 musical excerpts.
Link: For more information go to Sheffield University Music Mind Machine: here Or just go straight to Part One here to start straight away!
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