Does Synesthesia Run in Families?

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Synesthesia is a psychological phenomenon that some people experience that combines and connects two senses. For example, someone may hear a song and associate it with colors and patterns. Another person may smell a particular smell and associate it with numbers or words.

About 1 in 2,000 people experience synesthesia. With this statistic, you may wonder whether synesthesia is hereditary. Does it run in families? Let’s take a look.

Synesthesia and Genetics

Research done on synesthesia and genetics show that there is a genetic component in some people who experience this condition. It has been shown to be heterogeneous and polygenetic, proving evidence that it could also be hereditary.

In the same study, 40% of people with synesthesia reported having a relative with it. So, if you’re someone who experiences synesthesia, your aunt or your cousin or your sister may too.

Although genetic studies on synesthesia are new and not 100% concrete, there is a good chance that this condition is hereditary somehow. Scientists are still working on figuring out the exact mechanisms on the genetic side of things.

Do People From the Same Family Have the Same Type of Synesthesia?

In the studies taken on families and synesthesia, it was shown that females are more likely to inherit the synesthesia of their father or mother. Women are more likely in general to have synesthesia than men. However, men can also have the condition.

Surprisingly, however, synesthesia is not always the same type within families. A study done by the National Library of Medicine shows that within the group of participants who had other family members with synesthesia, there were differences in patterns and types of the ability.

For example, a mother could have synesthesia that allows her to associate taste with color. Her child may also be able to associate taste, but instead, she associates it with names and sounds. Or two siblings could have two very unrelated forms of synesthesia.

This phenomenon surprises scientists and geneticists alike because there is overwhelming evidence that synesthesia is hereditary. However, it appears that the condition itself is ever-changing between individuals, making it somewhat of a phenomenon.

What Types of Synesthesia Are There?

Many different types of synesthesia exist, and some are as unique as the people who have them. The studies above have shown that synesthesia can vary per person, including in small ways. It is not always the same case by case.

Some specific types of synesthesia that exist include:

• Letters and numbers associated with colors
• Sounds that the person listening associates with a color
• Tastes that remind someone of a particular sound, or the other way around
• Sounds in connection with patterns
• Sounds associated with touching an object

This is not a limited list. Many new types of synesthesia are being discovered each year, and no case is 100% the same. Someone with synesthesia may taste chocolate when hearing the word “cow,” and another may taste lemon.

Conclusion

If you know someone in your family who has synesthesia, you may as well. However, only about 40% of people in a family will share synesthesia somehow. Even if you don’t experience this phenomenon, you can benefit from having a better understanding of this neurological disorder.

About the Author

Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health-related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.

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