Is Mirror-Contact Synesthesia Actual? + Causes of the Uncommon Situation

This phenomenon can happen in response to ache—like watching somebody in a film run right into a door—in addition to pleasure and impartial contact. In the event that they “see one other individual receiving a hug or pat on the shoulder, they really feel that very same bodily sensation, although nobody has truly touched them,” says Joel Frank, PsyD, a scientific psychologist and proprietor of Duality Psychological Providers. Whereas this will sound too surreal to be true, a 2013 examine printed within the Oxford Library of Psychology signifies that between 1.5 and a couple of.6 % of the final inhabitants have mirror-touch synesthesia.

With our curiosity piqued, we requested neuroscience specialists about this uncommon and engaging phenomenon. To what extent can somebody expertise bodily ache by way of mirror-touch synesthesia? Does their reference to the person experiencing the precise bodily sensation play a task in transmitting these sensations? And what can mirror-touch synesthesia inform us in regards to the human capability for empathy? Learn on to study in regards to the indicators of mirror-touch synesthesia, its potential causes, and the way it can have an effect on an individual’s day by day life.

Is mirror-touch synesthesia actual?

Synesthesia happens when the activation of 1 sense concurrently prompts one other sense, says Jessica McCarthy, PsyD, scientific neuropsychologist and founder and scientific director at Components Psychological Providers, LLC. For instance, folks with this situation might even see a sure shade after they hear a musical observe or affiliate phrases with totally different tastes and textures. An individual may be born with synesthesia or develop this situation due to a mind harm or drug use. Mirror-touch synesthesia is the commonest kind of synesthesia and refers to when “an individual experiences the identical bodily sensations that they observe another person experiencing,” Dr. McCarthy says. The time period “mirror” describes sensations that happen on the alternative facet of the physique. As an example, in the event that they see somebody receiving an injection of their left arm, somebody with mirror-touch synesthesia may really feel ache or discomfort of their proper arm. “This heightened sensory expertise typically interprets into intense emotional and bodily empathy for others’ pleasure and ache,” Dr. Frank says. They could tear up or really feel a heat embrace whereas watching a dad or mum consolation their baby. What they observe can really feel very private and fast.

There are not any particular diagnostic standards that professionals have formulated to find out the scope of mirror-touch synesthesia in a person, making it difficult to review and observe. That stated, docs usually deal with the situation as a sensory processing dysfunction, during which the mind has hassle receiving and speaking info obtained by way of the 5 senses. Typically, sensory processing issues can create motor-processing points, making it tough to maneuver the physique in response to sensory indicators, spatial points that make it tough to navigate your atmosphere, sequencing points that make seemingly easy duties extra complicated, and extra. Mirror-touch synesthesia, particularly, makes it exhausting for the thoughts to discern between one other particular person being touched and the self being touched. As a result of it captures visible knowledge that confirms somebody is being touched, the thoughts communicates to the physique that the somebody have to be the self. The severity of the transmitted sensation varies from individual to individual, with some experiencing simply an “echo” of a contact after they see somebody stub their toe and others experiencing full-blown ache as in the event that they have been the one to stumble upon the espresso desk.

To those that do not expertise it, mirror-touch synesthesia usually comes throughout as a heightened model of empathy, which is normally good as a result of it permits us to construct social connections and perceive others on a deeper degree. These elevated ranges of bodily empathy, although, could make somebody weak to sensory overload. Dr. Frank explains that crowded areas may be overwhelming because of the bodily sensations triggered by observing folks’s actions. Whereas a day on the seashore may sound enjoyable to some, somebody with mirror-touch synesthesia may dread going to a spot the place they may witness a baby scrape their knee, one other individual get sunburned, and another person get salt water of their eyes.

Tips on how to check for mirror-touch synesthesia

Mirror-touch synesthesia is identified by way of self-reporting, in addition to scientific analysis by a neurologist or psychologist, says Gregory Gasic, PhD, co-founder of VMeDx. In response to a 2022 examine, roughly 10.8 % of the inhabitants report having mirror-touch synesthesia¹ whereas the estimated prevalence, based mostly on goal exams, is 1.6 %—on the decrease finish of the 1.5-2.6 % vary discovered within the earlier examine. Self-reported signs embrace itching, tingling, stress, or ache upon seeing one other individual being touched.

“This heightened sensory expertise typically interprets into intense emotional and bodily empathy for others’ pleasure and ache.” —Joel Frank, PsyD

Structured scientific assessments “usually contain detailed questionnaires and interviews to collect complete details about the frequency, consistency, and context of the skilled sensations,” Dr. Frank says. The clinician might present movies or dwell demonstrations of individuals being touched and ask the person to report any corresponding sensations. As well as, an individual might bear imaging exams to find out if their signs are according to mirror-touch synesthesia. Practical MRIs can be utilized to look at mind exercise in response to visible stimuli, in addition to detect structural variations within the mind. People with mirror-touch synesthesia might present heightened exercise in mind areas related to imaginative and prescient and contact, Dr. Gasic says.

What causes mirror-touch synesthesia?

Though analysis hasn’t established the reason for this situation, mirror neurons are doubtless concerned. Mirror neurons are “specialised mind cells that activate when a person performs an motion and after they observe another person doing the identical motion,” Dr. Frank explains. Amongst folks with mirror-touch synesthesia, these neurons could be hyperactive or extra interconnected, that means they have a tendency to really feel what they’re observing.

One other principle is that the mind has a tough time differentiating between the self and others, or what’s referred to as “self-other principle,” Dr. McCarthy explains. Basically, their mind interprets different folks’s bodily experiences as taking place in their very own our bodies. These perceptions are so vivid, they really feel like bodily sensations and cannot be thought away. At instances, they make folks with mirror-touch synesthesia so uncomfortable of their our bodies that they may bodily cringe or groan in ache in the event that they witness another person getting harm, even when it is on TV or in a TikTok video.

A 3rd risk is “cross-activation between the mind’s sensory and visible areas,” Dr. Frank says. This can lead to a couple of sense being activated at a time, so observing contact can really feel like they’re being touched. As well as, their heightened sensory notion makes them more proficient at deciphering and empathizing with different folks’s actions, Dr. Gasic says. Whereas every of those theories is comparable, no particular person principle absolutely explains why some folks expertise mirror-touch synesthesia and extra analysis is required to completely perceive the scope of the situation.

Is mirror-touch synesthesia linked with empathy?

Some research counsel that folks with mirror-touch synesthesia are likely to show heightened empathy². Their hyperactive mirror neuron system converts visible info into bodily sensations, strengthening their social and cognitive recognition expertise, Dr. Gasic says. For instance, one examine discovered that folks with mirror-touch synesthesia have been expert at studying facial expressions³ of feelings however had regular scores on different measures of empathy. A 2019 examine⁵ even suggests that folks with mirror-touch synesthesia show extra unselfish behaviors and customarily put others earlier than themselves, doubtlessly on account of this heightened empathy.

Different research haven’t been in a position to replicate these findings, together with a 2016 examine⁴ which discovered that folks with mirror-touch synesthesia didn’t rating greater on measures of empathy in comparison with different teams. In addition they concluded that mirror-touch synesthesia might co-occur with autism at greater charges than beforehand thought. One risk is that the signs of autism are sometimes ignored, notably after they current in ladies, so these people could also be misdiagnosed as having synesthesia as a substitute of autism, Dr. McCarthy explains.

Given these blended findings, maybe it’s extra correct to explain the connection between mirror-touch synesthesia and empathy as being complicated and multifaceted. Since their mirror neurons appear extra energetic, they’ll simply simulate and empathize with different folks’s experiences. This exhibits a unprecedented degree of empathetic connection that goes past imagining or comprehending somebody’s emotions, Dr. Frank says.

How to deal with mirror-touch synesthesia

For somebody with mirror-touch synesthesia, having heightened empathy and sensory experiences can promote deeper connections and compassion of their relationships. Some folks might get pleasure from their sensory experiences, channeling them into artistic and inventive pursuits, Dr. McCarthy says. In different situations, these sensations can result in sensory overload, making the expertise of contact appear overwhelming and tough to get pleasure from.

Practising self-care might help decrease the results of sensory overload. For instance, you may pre-emptively think about conditions the place you are likely to expertise intense sensations, so you may anticipate and handle them extra successfully. You can too work on setting private boundaries, corresponding to taking breaks throughout social gatherings or utilizing noise canceling headphones to reduce sensory enter, Dr. Frank suggests. One other manner to assist calm your thoughts is by incorporating deep respiration and five-minute meditation workout routines into your day by day routine.

If mirror-touch synesthesia is detracting out of your enjoyment of life, all three specialists suggest searching for assist from a healthcare skilled like a neurologist or psychologist who might help validate your experiences, Dr. McCarthy says. They will provide methods like mindfulness and cognitive behavioral strategies for managing sensory overload. You can too be a part of a assist group or on-line discussion board, so you may share experiences and obtain recommendation from folks with related situations, Dr. Gasic says.

Because the fixed inflow of mirrored sensations may be overwhelming, it’s additionally essential to be sincere along with your family and friends about your experiences. Open communication can promote assist and understanding. Mirror-touch synesthesia is uncommon and may be obscure if you have not skilled, so take the time to share your distinctive perspective with the world in your personal profit, in addition to to assist others respect the complexities of the human expertise.