Altered Consciousness in Sexual Synesthesia

Abstract

Sexual synesthesia is a neurological condition in which sexual intercourse or orgasm intermittently triggers atypical supplementary perceptions (e.g. colors, shapes). The present study examined 16 cases of sexual synesthesia to better characterize the role of consciousness alterations in this condition. Participants underwent a semi-structured interview and completed standardized measures of 1) consciousness alterations during sex as well as 2) dissociative experiences, and 3) unusual/anomalous experiences linked to hallucinations and beliefs in daily life. Synesthetes scored higher than controls on all measures. In addition, a majority reported a) other state-dependent synesthesia during music listening, meditation or childbirth and b) limbic synesthesia involving interoception, taste, pain or emotions. The reported phenomena were not linked to psychiatric or neurological disorders. Overall, these observations suggest that sexual synesthesia are often associated with a limbic system hypersensitivity reflected in consciousness alterations as well as visceral and emotional manifestations.

Keywords: sex-induced synesthesia, bodily hallucinations, self-consciousness, insula