Synethesia

Bouba/kiki Effect

-test that showed the human brain is somehow able to extract abstract properties from the shapes and sounds. (You can look it up if you want to know more)

Very much so like Synethesia, which is, according to Wikipedia, is a neurologically based phenomenon in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway.

Mainly, Synethesia occurs naturally, where an individual thinks of one thing, and relates or associates it to other things that are completely unrelated. It's a usually pleasant phenomenon, but some say that it can cause sensory overload.

(Personally) This relates to the way we use colors and sounds in chorus. Lighter tones are happier, more free. Darker tones are a bit more bogged down, heavier, strong. Both can be used in good ways, but it depends on the mood of the song. Thus, emotion, color, and sound are all engaged in unrelated ways. We can sing a song in a light color, (usually a light blue) or in a dark color (midnight blue). It's very effective and most members of the chorus can hear the difference.

A totally different look at In sound → color Synesthesia, would include seeing different colors, like fire engine red or a calm light blue when listening to music. One might report seeing a gold sounds coming out of a harp, without even seeing the harp.

In case this isn't made clear, Synethesia is when a person actually sees the color and associates it with the certain topic/subject. Sometimes they report seeing it with their 'third eye' and only in their mind, but some say it is almost hallucinatory-like. Another interesting fact is that Synethesia isn't related to any psychological issues or diagnoses. Because most say it's pleasant or neutral occurrence and that it doesn't bother them, most don't know it's happening, or that there's a name for it. Despite it not being a problem for those that have it, Synethesia is being studied. Most who have it consider it a gift and do not see it as a disorder or problem for them.


So why does this occur?
It's not known quite yet. I'll keep you updated though =]