The genetics of colored sequence synesthesia: Suggestive evidence of linkage to 16q and genetic heterogeneity for the condition

Synesthesia is a perceptual condition in which sensory stimulation triggers anomalous sensory experiences. In colored sequence synesthesia (CSS), color experiences are triggered by sequences such as letters or numbers. We performed a family based linkage analysis to identify genetic loci responsible for the increased neural crosstalk underlying CSS. Our results implicate a 23 MB region at 16q12.2-23.1, providing the first step in understanding the molecular basis of CSS.

► Synesthetes automatically associate color with letters, numbers, weekdays, or months. ► This perceptual experience may be caused by neural hyperconnectivity. ► We aim to find the gene(s) responsible for this type of neural crosstalk. ► Our results suggest that colored sequence synesthesia is linked to a region on chromosome 16q.