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What color is Tuesday? Exploring synesthesia - Richard E. Cytowic

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How does one experience synesthesia -- the neurological trait that combines two or more senses? Synesthetes may taste the number 9 or attach a color to each day of the week. Richard E. Cytowic explains the fascinating world of entangled senses and why we may all have just a touch of synesthesia.


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TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Director Biljana Labović
  • Artist Celeste Lai
  • Animator Lisa LaBracio
  • Educator Richard E. Cytowic
  • Narrator Richard E. Cytowic
Additional Resources for you to Explore
Can you teach yourself synesthesia (“The Fallible Mind” blog at Psychology Today)?
Cytowic's lecture at the Library of Congress: “Music and the Brain: How Synesthesia Affects Creativity”
The Hirshhorn Museum gallery talk during the exhibit, “Visual Music.”
Here's Richard Cytowic's website.
Are you interested in some books to learn more about synesthesia?
Are you a visual synesthete? Take the test!
Excerpt from Wednesday is Indigo Blue: Discovering the Brain of Synesthesia (click on “Click to look inside”)
The visuals in this video really helped enhance Cytowic's words. Are you interested in how the animation for this TED-Ed Lesson was created? See the process in this TED-Ed Lesson about special effects.

Customize this lesson

Create and share a new lesson based on this one.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Director Biljana Labović
  • Artist Celeste Lai
  • Animator Lisa LaBracio
  • Educator Richard E. Cytowic
  • Narrator Richard E. Cytowic

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