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Kathryn JacksonBritish student with lexical-gustatory synesthesia.
Country:
 Great Britain |
Biography of Catherine Jackson
Catherine Jackson, a British student with lexical-gustatory synesthesia, is known for her ability to taste food when she hears or sees certain words. Born in Nottingham, the 22-year-old student was diagnosed with lexical-gustatory synesthesia, a rare form of synesthesia where individuals unconsciously experience synthetic tastes and smells triggered by oral or written language.
Catherine has admitted to facing difficulties in maintaining conversations as she is constantly distracted by the changing taste receptors. For instance, when someone speaks certain names aloud, she experiences flavors like marshmallows, apples, custard, carrots, and more. As a student of creative advertising, Jackson not only has the gift of tasting words but also feeling their texture and smelling their aromas.
To share her unique experiences, Catherine created an Instagram account called "I-taste-words," where she accompanies her stories about how different words evoke specific tastes with colorful illustrations. Whether listening to lectures at university, interacting with friends, or spending time reading her favorite novel, Catherine continues to expand her knowledge in lexical-gustatory synesthesia. She explains, "I can taste words when I hear or see them. It has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember."
Catherine describes how certain words sound like food to her, triggering associations to specific dishes. For example, when she hears the name "Lola," she feels as if she is tasting lollipops. The name "Ella" evokes the flavor of jelly in her mouth because "Ella" and "jelly" rhyme. She also associates the name "Rory" with the taste of carrots because it sounds like "raw," leading her to think of carrots.
However, it's not just rhymes or sounds that cause the different tastes in Catherine's mouth. A vivid childhood memory can be enough to provoke a pleasant or not-so-pleasant synesthetic experience. For instance, the name "Yvonne," the hairdresser's name, brings forth the taste of cigarettes and the smell of hair lacquer.
Synesthesia is a condition where stimulation in one sensory or cognitive system triggers an involuntary response in another. One of the most common types of synesthesia is grapheme-color synesthesia, where individuals associate words and numbers with specific colors. According to Boston University, one in 5,000 people has synesthesia. However, lexical-gustatory synesthesia is a rare form, occurring in less than one person per 100,000.
Catherine claims to see colors when she hears numbers, but all her senses become activated and intertwined. She says, "Some people find my condition strange, but when I begin to explain what synesthesia is, I find that many people have some familiarity with it on some level. Many friends have told me they think of specific colors when they see certain numbers."
Because of her unique condition, Catherine faces difficulties concentrating at university. She says, "When I am in a lecture, it is really hard for me to focus because a specific word spoken aloud triggers another taste in my mouth. The sensation is so strong that I can't stop thinking about that word, and its taste starts to haunt me. This can lead to feelings of hunger and even irritation."
Even when she is reading, words can transform into taste sensations, even if they were not spoken aloud. Catherine decided to share her story to raise awareness about lexical-gustatory synesthesia. She says, "Once I was reading a newspaper article about a fish and chips shop, and suddenly, I could smell the fish and potatoes. The smells can be so strong that I look around to make sure there isn't an actual source nearby. I even physically feel the food in my mouth when I hear certain words. I feel the texture."
Catherine has had this condition since she was a little girl but didn't realize how different she was from others. She thought that everyone had the same experiences. She adds, "When my family members are choosing names for their children, I always ask them why they chose a particular name. I do this because some names trigger awful tastes in my mouth. But then I realize that no one knows why I have such a reaction."
Despite the challenges her unique condition presents, Catherine finds solace in the moments when she tastes lollipops on a stick or cupcakes. Ultimately, she hopes that by sharing her story, others will gain a better understanding of lexical-gustatory synesthesia.
