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[A Sensory Mash-up: Wow in the World Meets Story Pirates]-[Wow in the World + The Story Pirates in Do You SEE What I HEAR?]

Wow in the World · B1 · 2018-05-28

Preschool Enlightenment
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📋 Summary

Introduction: The Crossover Event

In this special crossover episode, the hosts of Wow in the World, Mindy and Guy Raz, team up with the Story Pirates to explore the fascinating neurological phenomenon of synesthesia. The episode kicks off with Mindy’s chaotic attempts to prepare for the collaboration, involving an elaborate "synesthesia machine" built from household junk and a series of comedic misunderstandings about how to properly welcome guests.

What is Synesthesia?

Guy Raz provides a scientific breakdown of synesthesia, describing it as a "super rare neurological condition" where the brain’s senses become "crisscrossed." Instead of operating as separate, isolated systems, the brain triggers multiple senses simultaneously. For instance, a person might "see sounds," "hear colors," or even "taste words." As Mindy notes, this is not just a quirky trait; it is a brain-based reality where the typical boundaries between the five senses dissolve.

The Science of Connectivity: Axonogenesis

Drawing on research from the Max Planck Institute of Psycholinguistics, the hosts discuss the mystery behind why synesthesia occurs. While scientists once hypothesized it was purely hereditary, studies of family DNA revealed that there is no single "synesthesia gene." Instead, the current scientific consensus points toward axonogenesis—a process where the brain builds "more highways and longer highways" that connect disparate regions of the brain. These neural connections allow the auditory center to communicate directly with the visual cortex, creating the sensory overlaps that define the synesthetic experience.

Putting Theory into Practice

To truly understand the condition, the team incorporates a song titled "Mixed Up Sensory World." This musical segment highlights real-life experiences of a young person named Niall, who sees images—like the Golden Gate Bridge—whenever he hears specific words. Through this song, the hosts emphasize that synesthesia is a "mixed up sensory world" that varies from person to person, with over 80 different types documented.

The Synesthesia Machine

The climax of the episode involves the gang testing Mindy’s homemade "human-sized kaleidoscope." By stepping into the machine, they simulate the experience of synesthesia. As the music plays, they report "seeing colors" and "smelling cinnamon rolls" when hearing specific notes, demonstrating the "sensory world" they had been studying. The episode concludes with the Story Pirates and the Wow in the World team celebrating this unique mental "highway system," leaving listeners with a deeper appreciation for the magnificent complexity of the human brain.

🎯Key Sentences

1
I'm not expecting anyone.
2
We should totally do that.
3
She's never around when I need her.
4
I think I must have the wrong number.
5
I do have a few things on my list.
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📝Key Phrases

1
music to your ears
2
get on with the show
3
two can play at that game
4
without further ado
5
no big deal
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📖 Transcript

Grownups, Wondery Plus subscribers can listen to Wow in the World early and ad-free right now.
Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or Wondery Kids Plus on Apple Podcasts.
Hey, Wowzer fans, Mindy here.
And before we start the show, I gotta let you know that this November, with a special new episode featuring our friends at Circle Round and Terrestrials on Radiolab for Kids,
And don't miss when Elmo from Sesame Street stops by Wow in the World to make us all belly laugh on November 24th.
Oh, but that's not all, Reg.

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