Sensory Processing
& Famous Musicians' Conditions

Synesthesia is the blending of the senses — an unusual neurological phenomenon in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway. Colours may trigger sounds, for example.

In the arts, it can be an extraordinary advantage — giving musicians a richer, more dimensional experience of their craft. Yet in the non-arts applied world, it may impair function and daily life.

Related to synesthesia, Selective Sound Sensitivity Syndrome (S4) is a painful and costly condition that is presently often not addressed. Jastreboff and Hazell have proposed that there is a hyper-connectivity between the auditory and limbic system in Sensory Processing Disorder.

The need for better screening is critical because of its impact on functional deficits in school children and working professionals — which can be extraordinarily expensive if overlooked.

Techniques such as fMRI and electronic brain charting are not presently well applied to prevent and help address functional problems in performance. We support research and application of improved screening procedures for sensory processing conditions, advocating for earlier detection and more comprehensive assessment tools.