Spatial Sequence Synesthesia
 

I recently discovered that I have this. For a long time I assumed everyone saw days, months, dates, etc. visually like I do but when I started asking people on occasion, nobody understood what i was talking about. Well, now I know there are others out there who also see a visual pattern like I do. So....I was wondering if anyone else has this.

It is pretty interesting how the mind works!

http://www.synesthesiatest.org/blog/...ce-synesthesia

From the article:

Do you visualize numerical sequences in physical space? How ’bout days of the week, months in the year, or years in the past decade? If Wednesday’s floating to your left, and 1999 is situated just above your head, you may be experiencing spatial sequence synesthesia. Since several readers have inquired about this form, I thought it appropriate for a post topic. As far as tests go, there isn’t a whole lot to discuss. This form is relatively self-explanatory. Perhaps some of you, though, who’ve had similar experiences, mightn’t have thought them to be synesthetic. Let’s dive a little deeper!

Sequences in Physical Space

When we talk about visualizing sequences in physical space, we’re not talking about outer space. If you can see that far, you’re dealing with something far more esoteric and mystifying than synesthesia. In fact, we’re talking about the space around you – your “bubble”, if you will. If – when it comes to numbers, dates, and sequences – you visualize entities in your immediate vicinity, there’s a fair chance that you’re familiar with this type.


Spatial sequence synesthetes might have a tough time convincing their friends and family members that they’re seeing what they claim to be seeing. However, Dr. David Eagleman has no trouble believing in this phenomenon; after all, he is a neuroscientist (working at the Baylor College of Medicine, no less). Appropriately enough, Dr. Eagleman’s lab has actually developed a sort of virtual reality, in which synesthetes can map their spatial visualizations. The findings are quite interesting; you can get a quick briefing by reading his abstract. There are several takeaways, of course. What I find most compelling (and in hindsight intuitive) is that the research supported “the possibility that SSS is directly related to the sequence representations in nonsynesthetes” (Eagleman, 2009). Month visualizations, for instance, were generally mapped from left to right, which is consistent with the “directional bias” of Western speakers.

A Memory Advantage?

One study, conducted by Julia Simner of the University of Edinburgh in the UK, found that spatial sequence synesthetes have a built-in and automatic mnemonic reference. In other words, where the nonsynesthete needs to create a mnemonic device to remember a sequence (like “Please excuse my dear Aunt Sally.”), the synesthete can simply reference their spatial visualizations. Read the full coverage of this study on ScienceMag.org. It’s worth the five minutes it takes to peruse. So, really, there is a subtle memory advantage. It isn’t eidetic (or photographic), though.
~ This is certainly one of the most interesting forms of synesthesia that I’ve written on, and I’d love to learn more. Feel free to share your experiences anonymously, if you’d like! I’ve been tossing around the idea of publishing a collection of anonymous synesthetic experiences, with the thought that it might be beneficial for others to reference. Of course, all experiences published would be with the permission of the sharer, and (as I mentioned) each synesthetic experience would be published anonymously. Do share your thoughts on this, loyal readers!
That’s all for now, though! Whether tomorrow’s on your left or on your right, make it a fabulous day!

interesting. Nope don't have that ! I have a photographic memory, tho. it's a freakin curse.
Id rather forget.

The spatial thing doesn't bother me. I couldn't imagine *not* having this ability now since it is all I know.

My 7 year old son seems to have a photographic memory. An example - he drew all the planets the other day and then after labeling them, he put the exact numeric diameter for each, not copying from a book. He knew them. I was amazed! He said he doesn't know how he remembers things like that.

I see the year as a circular object. Jan. 1 is at the top and the year goes counter clockwise. Most people see it as clockwise. I don't know why I'm different.

I also have an uncanny knack for remembering numbers. I can tell you the yield of each of my fields since I started farming 14 years ago.

I was going to ask if it helps with memory. I've heard of synestesia before, but I didn't know there were different types. It seems really cool!

Old Herb Lady, even though not being able to remember things gets me into trouble sometimes, I swear, I wouldn't want it any other way. I can't imagine carrying around everything someone ever said, etc. No thanks. I would like to remember the good stuff. Hahaha.

Here's an example I found on the net. Most people see "for sale by owner"...some see something else.

http://cdn-www.i-am-bored.com/media/...e-my-boner.jpg

That's really interesting. I think I have a touch of that too. When I think about my life I see it as this twisty physical time line in my head. I just wonder now if there are any way or tricks I can take advantage of this for learning in or memory.

I agree with you 100%. that's why I said its a curse. I feel that when you can forget things you are blessed, you have no idea. I just don't understand. Thank you for sharing, I have to work very, very hard to block stuff out, it's too much. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...milies/sad.gif

Sorry for your curse, but you gotta admit, there's an upside to it. Like how I can ask you what would be some good natural medicine for hypertension, and boom! You've got a detailed list off the top of your head. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ies/smiley.gif That's gotta be pretty cool.

Still, I wouldn't trade with you, but at the same time I am a little envious. How's that possible? http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/cool.png

I see days of the week clockwise and like you, months are counter-clockwise. When I think about a timeframe, a specific date, I visualize the exact spot on the oval.

I see life events by my age and it's a ribbon pattern that curves beginning at age 29 (before age 29, it's a straight line), then it curves by decade. So strange! So when I think of something in the past or future, I picture that location on the ribbon with a visual memory of whatever I'm remembering.

This is so cool. I never heard of this before. I don't have it that I'm aware of. I think I'm more like K-os. My memory can be terrible.
I've got no control over what I remember. The memory just pops into my head and pops out again as if it belongs to someone else.

Before I ever discussed this with anyone, I assumed everyone saw things this way. What I don't understand is - how do people see days, months and dates in their mind if not by some visual method? It's difficult for me to imagine not seeing things this way and I think I would be very disorganized.

You know, there is another version of this specific to colors. Some people see letters and numbers in colors. (I don't). It is really interesting.

I'm going to have to contact family members to see if anyone else sees things like I do. There is supposed to be a hereditary component. I read that more women than men have this and even more left handed women (I am).

I am completely fascinated by all of this!

I also think it's interestingly coincidental that you and horseshoe3 both have numbers in your usernames. In fact, I am pretty sure I have nearly mistaken you two before . . . way back when.

Here's another interesting link that describes the different versions of this. I only have the spatial number thing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synesthesia

When reading your original post I thought to myself "what if this is some sort of evolution of the mind?".

Yes, I can remember a person's phone number that I haven't called in 20 years.

My son - I think he may have this too because his ability to remember numbers is difficult to comprehend. Over the wknd I needed to update my webmail password and was prompted with an 8 digit number. I knew I wouldn't remember it so I told my older son to write it down for me. An hour or so later, I said "oh, I need that password again". I was about to get up and search for the piece of paper (we were staying at a hotel). I didn't have to because my 7 year old said "it's xxxxxxxx". He knew it! Howhttp://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...milies/huh.gif (he wasn't anywhere close to the paper where it was written down). I'm amazed.

But the way I found out about this synesthesia is a friend noticed her daughter was talking about colors of numbers while doing a math assignment. So when I searched for info on it, I found the spatial form of it and couldn't believe it. I never knew anyone studied this or that there was a name for it.

how do people see days, months and dates in their mind if not by some visual method? I don't think I see any of those things. For me, those concepts have no form. Weirdness!
I must remember them phonetically, or maybe I relate a month to a sensation, like July/sweat or January/shiverhttp://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...milies/huh.gif

But I have to admit I'm pretty much a complete moron when it comes to numbers, dates and times.

How do your visuals sort out short-, medium-, and long-term memory? For instance, do you have this week's daily visuals in front of you at all time, but if you have to remember something from 1995, do you only have a 1995 visual which you then open up visually to see individual months and days? In other words, how is it that your visuals aren't all cluttered?

This is an interesting idea.

Not to change the subject, but I've wondered that same thing about psychopathy as well. A detachment from one's conscience. Dissociation brought on by a lessening of need for bonding with others in modern society. A dehumanization process that is an unfortunate consequence of technological advancement.

For me, it's mostly about seeing days and months in a specific location. They have the same location for each year. If I'm thinking about a past event, say high school graduation - I picture my age and where I was on the time ribbon and I may also picture graduation time (late May) on my oval.

Nothing gets cluttered because it's not like it's sitting there. I only go to that place when I have a memory from that time. Does that make sense?

I should draw it sometime, what it looks like to me.

Days are easy - for a given week I can see what I did and where it sits in my visual space on the "week oval". I can even see ahead and visualize what my plans are for next week and I see that location with a visual of what I have planned.