Does anyone else see numbers in different colours?

[Jacksmania]

I've always seen numbers in different colours. I mean that when I visualize a number, or a series of numbers like a telephone number, the numbers are in different colours. Sometimes the colours are different, but some are constant, for example, I usually see the number 4 in shades of yellow. The number 1 is usually white, but not always. Other numbers change colours randomly. I hope this doesn't sound like I've had too much wine.

Does this happen to anyone else?

I'm asking because DS now apparently says the same thing. He hasn't said it to me, but his kindergarten teacher mentioned it this morning in a "ha ha, how cute" kind of way.
I didn't feel confident enough to say "oh yes, I always have, too" (she's very nice but intimidates me a bit).

?
Anyone?

Google synasthesia.

My orgasms are different colours

There's a thing called synesthesia (sp?) Where people experience things in senses other than the one you would expect, for example, tasting words, smelling sounds. It's fairly unusual I believe, but not harmful or indicative of anything wrong. Have a Google, I'm sure you will find some reassuring information.

it is called synaesthesia. It is known to be heritable and there are lots of different types (e.g color - number / color - words / etc).

There is some info here:
www.sussex.ac.uk/synaesthesia/
I'm sure the researchers would love to hear from you if you want to fill in the surveys.

Synasthesia. A friend of mine and her daughter have it. Her daughter more so - one of her recent things was that "water tasted like the shape of a kidney bean", and that "Tuesdays are green".

Try a book called 'The Number Sense' by Stanislas Dehaene. It says about 5 - 10% of the population associate number with colour. It also says 0 &1 tend to be black or white, 3,4,5 yellow, red or blue and larger numbers purple or grey. Turns out you're not alone

Wow!!!!!! :) :) :)
Thank you all!! I was a bit scared to Google - I've mentioned it to friends before and have gotten the raised eyebrow and "do you see green people??"
Except from one lovely friend who said "hmmm... I hear music when I taste things" which I thought she was just saying to crack me up it had the desired effect but now I wonder if she was serious. Will have to ask.

So, it's heritable? I'm going to ask my mum.

phew, I'm not as odd as I thought
or maybe I'm exactly as odd as I thought :o

Just read back a bit. GrandPooBah - that's so cool!!! Are the colour associated with the wow factor? Like, purple is really awesome and a yellow orgasm might be middling? Or is it just random?
I'm honestly not taking the piss, I'm very curious.

I have synesthesia (US spelling). All sounds, especially words (and so numbers as words) have colors. It was much stronger when I was a child. It sort of works in the background now. It helps me remember people's names if I can associate a color of hair or eyes with the name. My brother has it too; when we were children we would argue over what color different words are.

synesthesia - I have it too, but never knew what it was until I went to art college. In my case I 'feel' colour with blue/indigo having the strongest effect, followed by the golden colours of Autumn.

You are not alone! I have it with colours for numbers and letters..

a good friend of mine sees musical notes as colours and as a result is a musical genius, he only needs to hear something once and can play it back perfectly. I see days of the week as different colours and I get very anxious if I have a day where I don't know what's going on as my brain can't assign it a colour. that might just be my anxiety wanting things to be in order though!

Yes.

I've always seen numbers in colours. For example 4 is always blue, 3 is green, 5 Red, 6 is brown and 7 is orange/yellow. I've always assumed that everyone sees them in colours to be honest.

I see numbers and days of the week and months of the year in colours. Also shapes. Triangles are always yellow. Circles blue and squares red. If I'm trying to memorise something the colours can help. I don't remember it ever not being so.

Mine is obviously quite low level. It must be extraordinary to taste words or smell sounds.

Ooh I'm like this, but 3, 6 and 9 are yellow, 4 is red. Very useful I think!

No, it's more like... Intensity. The best ones are dark colours, purples and blacks, but sometimes I have a very 'easy' one, and that's more likely to be yellow.

It sounds really odd when I put it like that...

Not with numbers, but Tuesday is always yellow and Friday is kind of reddish. I see images for words too - eg 'minute' is a pocket in a red coat. Different words are different shapes in my mind.

LadyMacbeth - my shapes are the same colour as yours

Very interested in this thread. My daughter is 12 and has said for quite a few years that she sees letters in different colours. She will happily tell me which one is which colour.

It brings a different dimension to baby naming. I really dislike most shades of orange. I could never name a child an orange name.

I don't see letters in colour so much, but numbers, definitely.

This is so interesting!!!

superlambanana, I think you'll find that, although Friday is red, Tuesday is most definitely blue!!
I love having synaesthesia!

My shapes are the same as Lady Macbeth's as well! I'd never even thought about it being odd before. Days also have colours.. tuesday is yellow for me tho :D

I am jealous of you all, I think it is so cool.

numbers, letters, days of the week, peoples names for me - it is quite cool.

AvonCalling - Friday is indeed red, like a shining beacon that gets me through the week :o