The discussion centers on the concept of synesthesia, particularly how individuals perceive numbers, such as the number 20, as having specific colors based on their factors. Participants explore whether the perception of color associated with numbers is influenced by learning arithmetic or if it exists independently. The girl in the discussion suggests that the color of 20 is a blend of the colors of its factors, 2 and 0. This raises questions about the nature of perception and the relationship between learned mathematics and sensory experiences.
PREREQUISITESCognitive psychologists, educators, individuals interested in synesthesia, and anyone exploring the intersection of perception and mathematics.
Do you physically see the colors superimposed on the numerals out in the real world? Is it a visual experience?Ben Niehoff said:Interesting, I have synesthesia, but it's just a direct correspondence between each letter/digit and a color. So 20 has the color of 2 and then the color of 0.
InvalidID said:
The girl says that the number 20 has a colour that is a mix of the colours of 20's factors. I find this interesting, because I always thought arithmetic is imaginary, right? If she didn't learn basic arithmetic, would 20 have had the same colour? Or would 20 have the same colour, but to her, the colour would seem random to her?