Sarah Gann, a 30-year-old woman from Fort Smith, Arkansas, lives with an extraordinary neurological condition called synesthesia. This condition causes her brain to associate certain words with specific tastes, creating a unique sensory experience that sets her apart.
Gann’s synesthesia manifests in a way that might seem fantastical to most people. The word ‘blue,’ for instance, evokes the taste of chocolate in her mouth, while ‘concrete’ brings the sensation of milk dipped in cookies. ‘Teacher’ triggers a Skittle-like tang, and ‘think’ prompts the sweetness of chocolate milk.
While Gann doesn’t experience a taste for every word, she has a significant number that do trigger these gustatory sensations. She explains, “I have always tasted words, but when I brought it up to a friend in middle school, she didn’t understand it.” Growing up, she assumed everyone experienced this, but she soon realized her perception was unique.
Describing the intensity of her experiences, she says, “I can’t physically taste the words, but I can clearly imagine the taste in my mouth. It’s not always words I like – the word ‘clock’ tastes like milk to me, and I’m not a fan of milk, so that’s not pleasant.”
Though she initially felt isolated with her condition, Gann now embraces it. “I used to feel super weird about it when I was younger because nobody else had synesthesia – but now I find it pretty fun. It’s definitely something to talk about with people – they always want to know what their name tastes like.”
Interestingly, Gann’s own name and those of her children, Sailor and Skip, don’t evoke any particular flavor. However, her partner’s surname, ‘Clayton,’ triggers a distinct taste. She describes, “The word ‘clay’ tastes like clay, but when it’s ‘Clayton’ it tastes like paper.”
Gann’s synesthetic experience is consistent, with the same words always triggering the same tastes. This phenomenon occurs most frequently with nouns. She adds, “I also get it a lot with names. My favourite is Brandon – it tastes like a chocolate candy bar.”
Sarah’s story highlights the remarkable ways our brains can process information, turning ordinary words into extraordinary sensory experiences. Her condition provides a fascinating glimpse into the intricacies of the human mind and the diversity of human perception.
