Ticker-Tape Synesthesia

 by Macy Johnson

“He said to them, ‘How foolish you are,

and how slow of heart to believe

all that the prophets have spoken!’”

(Luke 24:25 NIV)

 

During a Friends of the Library meeting one morning the discussion turned to audiobooks. There is a concern that hard copy books are losing interest and libraries, as we know them, may soon pass away. A member commented that she was addicted to audiobooks. She reminded us that storytelling is the original way tales and facts of the past were passed down through generations. Before there were books written, people told stories and learned by listening.

 

It made perfect sense that we might prefer our original form of learning, albeit in electronic form. I still have a long way to go before I put down a hard book and pick up earbuds and my cell phone. I am relaxed when I read and like having a book in my hands.

 

I explained it to my husband, Jeff. I told him that when I listen to classical music, I picture the notes on the page. When I listen to someone reading, I picture the words in the book. It feels like double-duty. 

 

According to PubMed Central, “Visualizing written words, such as mental subtitles or ticker tape, when hearing spoken language is called ticker-tape synesthesia (TTS). This phenomenon is a form of synesthesia, where auditory input involuntarily triggers a visual, orthographic (written) experience.” TTS typically cannot be turned off. 

 

My former boss listened to “talk radio” in the car. I found it unnerving, but it relaxed him. The words scrolled through my mind at the speed of sound. I prefer to listen to instrumental music in my car.

 

I will read about Jesus and listen to Him speak words of Truth for me to remember and live by. I hope you will, too!