Read the passage.
Synesthesia: Mixed-Up Senses
We generally think of our senses as having completely separate functions. This is a logical
assumption; after all, we can't see with our ears or taste with our eyes. For people with a
condition called synesthesia, however, senses can be conflated, or mixed together. In
fact, the word synesthesia, derived from Greek, literally means "sensations together."
This combining of senses causes interesting sensory experiences. For example, some
synesthetes. (people who experience synesthesia) imagine tasting a particular flavor
whenever they hear a certain sound. Others "hear" a sound in their minds whenever they
touch a certain object. The most common types of synesthesia involve colors. In one
common subtype, for instance, synesthetes associate different colors with different letters
of the alphabet. Typically, synesthetes are not bothered by their synesthesia; in fact,
many enjoy it.
What is the main idea of the
passage?
People with synesthesia experience a fusing of different senses.
People with synesthesia may hear a sound when they touch an object.
