Sigma Xi Public Talk
Colour, Music, and Emotion in Synesthetes and Non-Synesthetes
Presented by Stephen E. Palmer, Institute of Cognitive Studies, UC Berkeley
Music-to-color associations were studied in synesthetes and non-synesthetes for several kinds of music, including classical, single-line piano melodies, and 34 different genres of popular music (from heavy metal to country western). When non-synesthetes chose the colors that 'went best' with each selection, faster music in the major mode was strongly associated with more saturated, lighter, yellower colors. Further evidence shows that these music-to-color associations are mediated by emotion (e.g., the happy/sad ratings of the music were highly correlated with the happy/sad ratings of the colors chosen as going best with the music . Similar emotional effects were present for lower-level musical sounds. The similarities and differences of synesthetes' and non-synesthetes' color experiences will be discussed.
5:00 pm, Thursday, September 18, 2014
Room C, UNM Conference Center
Northeast corner of Indian School and University
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