Migraine in Synesthetes and Nonsynesthetes: A Prevalence Study

Jonas, Clare N.; Hibbard, Paul B.

doi:10.1177/0301006615599905

Cited by 12 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 40 publications

(63 reference statements)

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“…Given that this test is sensitive to the presence of migraine, it is important to note that the participants of this study, synaesthetes and controls, reported a low incidence of migraine with aura (syns = 4.3%, controls = 9.4%) and migraine without aura (syns = 8.7%, controls = 13.2%) and did not differ from each other in this regard (Fisher’s test p = 0.634; and p-.688 respectively), as noted by a previous study34.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 73%

Atypical sensory sensitivity as a shared feature between synaesthesia and autism

Ward

Hoadley

Hughes

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

101

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Several studies have suggested that there is a link between synaesthesia and autism but the nature of that link remains poorly characterised. The present study considers whether atypical sensory sensitivity may be a common link between the conditions. Sensory hypersensitivity (aversion to certain sounds, touch, etc., or increased ability to make sensory discriminations) and/or hyposensitivity (desire to stimulate the senses , or a reduced response to sensory stimuli are a recently introduced diagnostic feature of autism spectrum conditions (ASC). Synaesthesia is defined by unusual sensory experiences and has also been linked to a typical cortical hyper-excitability. The Glasgow Sensory Questionnaire (GSQ) was administered to synaesthetes and people with ASC. Both groups reported increased sensory sensitivity relative to controls with a large effect size. Both groups also reported a similar pattern of both increased hyper- and hypo-sensitivities across multiple senses. The AQ (Autism-Spectrum Quotient) scores were elevated in the synaesthetes, and one subscale of this measure (attention to detail) placed synaesthetes within the autistic range. A standard laboratory test of visual stress (the Pattern Glare Test), administered online, corroborated the findings of increased sensitivity to aversive visual stimuli in synaesthetes. We conclude that atypical sensory sensitivity is an important shared feature between autism and synaesthesia.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 73%

Atypical sensory sensitivity as a shared feature between synaesthesia and autism

Ward

Hoadley

Hughes

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

101

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“…Our study could not address previous questions concerning RIS/MS and synaesthesia due to small sample sizes, and we found no link between synaesthesia and IBS (Carruthers et al, 2012) nor migraine (Jonas & Hibbard, 2015) although we did not discriminate between different headache/migraine phenomena. Another limitation of our study was that we investigated diagnosed health conditions only, which might have underrepresentation certain health conditions where people may be less likely to seek medical help.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…With less formal screening (self-declared), Jonas and Hibbard (2015) questioned 253 female participants about both synaesthesia and migraine and found that certain types of synaesthetic triggers (scents, tastes, emotions, personalities, and visual triggers) were associated with higher rates of headache with visual disturbances. With less formal screening (self-declared), Jonas and Hibbard (2015) questioned 253 female participants about both synaesthesia and migraine and found that certain types of synaesthetic triggers (scents, tastes, emotions, personalities, and visual triggers) were associated with higher rates of headache with visual disturbances.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In these studies, patient groups were screened for synaesthesia using an objective diagnostic test. With less formal screening (self-declared), Jonas and Hibbard (2015) questioned 253 female participants about both synaesthesia and migraine and found that certain types of synaesthetic triggers (scents, tastes, emotions, personalities, and visual triggers) were associated with higher rates of headache with visual disturbances. They also found that variants of synaesthesia triggering tactile sensations were associated with migraine with aura.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Is there a burden attached to synaesthesia? Health screening of synaesthetes in the general population

Carmichael

Smees

Shillcock

et al. 2018

British J of Psychology

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Synaesthesia has long been considered a benign alternative form of perception most often associated with positive rather than negative outcomes. The condition has been associated with a variety of cognitive and perceptual advantages, including benefits in memory, processing speed, and creativity. It is not currently recognized in the DSM-IV. Recently, however, several studies have raised the question of a possible link between synaesthesia and clinical conditions. Here, we present the first large-scale screening of the general population in which we (1) objectively identified grapheme-colour synaesthetes and (2) elicited information from our participants about a range of clinical conditions. We compared the prevalence rates of these conditions in synaesthetes versus nonsynaesthetes to establish whether any conditions were found at a higher rate among synaesthetes. In our initial study, screening 3,742 people (95 synaesthetes and 3,647 controls), we found initially that grapheme-colour was significantly comorbid with two conditions (anxiety disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder). In our second study, screening a new population of 120 synaesthetes and 166 non-synaesthetes, we replicated our finding that grapheme-colour synaesthesia is comorbid with anxiety disorder. At the same time, we also addressed a methodological concern that likely elevated rates of OCD in Study 1. We consider the aetiology of synaesthesia to determine whether there may be a shared genetic or neurological basis with anxiety disorder, and we question the status of synaesthesia within a mental health framework.

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“…6 Both excess and lack of sleep can trigger migraine attacks. 7 Also synesthesia, a condition from which Tesla suffered, can be associated with migraine 8 ("when a word was spoken to me the image of the object it designated would present itself vividly to my vision"). 1 Based on the description of his "many strange likedislike habits," eg, the violent aversion against the earrings of women, the hair of other people or the germs, or the need that "all repeated acts or operations I performed had to be divisible by three," 1 we also propose that Tesla suffered from an obsessive-compulsive disorder.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%