The photo above was taken by National Geographic’s expert photographer George Steinmetz. Though the black shapes in the image might look like camels, those are only shadows of the animals themselves. This is an aerial photograph — the real camels are actually the white stripes below the black silhouettes! Can you see them?
Synesthesia refers to the neurological condition where stimulation to one sensory modality is involuntarily and automatically perceived in other sensory or cognitive pathways. For example, some persons classified as synesthetes have reported that they are able to taste words or visualize colors when they hear certain sounds. In the video above we are introduced to Elizabeth Sulser, who is able to both see and taste music.
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In this talk, Andy Puddicombe speaks on the importance of taking care of our minds. He references scientific studies which claim that our minds are lost in thought 47% of the time and that mind-wandering is directly linked to unhappiness. Puddicombe stresses the mental health benefits of meditation, not only as a possible cure for stress, but also as a preventative measure. He argues that while “we can’t change every little thing that happens to us in life…we can change the way that we experience it.”
Abnormal behavior, such as “punching yourself in the face,” may appear symptomatic of aggression but could actually stem from an unusual neurological impairment. Professing to taste colors or speaking in a foreign accent may lead to a referral to a psychiatrist but these behaviors can actually result from rare brain disorders, sometimes genetically acquired, but most often manifesting as a result of trauma or disease. Continue reading
