Synesthesia and metaphor?

[Jonathan Hamilton]

I apologize in advance for this question, because the background I have on it is spotty.

About a year or so ago, I recall hearing on the radio/reading on the Web/hearing from a friend about an article in a magazine/journal/website that suggested the human capacity for metaphor and indirect comparison may be a rudimentary, still evolving sense that developed as a result of our brains' tendency for synesthesia. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? I'd love to read/hear the story proper.

Sure has frightening implications, doesn't it? We could conceivably evolve out of our ability to appreciate modern literature.

 

[Piscivore]

I haven't but it seems interesting.

I think the process is already underway.

 

[Elaedith]

There is some work by Ramachandran on this. He has suggested a relationship between synaesthesia and metaphor and has a video about it, so it may be what you heard about. He has some publications available from this link: http://psy.ucsd.edu/chip/ramapubs.html