Abstract

This text comments on Cytowic's recent review on the current knowledge on synesthesia. Recent neurophysiological findings are discussed that suggest cross-modal interference in the mammalian brain. Based on these results, it is proposed that synesthesia may not be restricted to the phenomenologically characterized abnormality described in Cytowic's review, but rather that it may encompass a series of related physical phenomena in the brain. Some additional remarks on the relationship between emotions and consciousness have also been included.