199 lines
9.1 KiB
Plaintext
199 lines
9.1 KiB
Plaintext
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(word processor parameters LM=8, RM=75, TM=2, BM=2)
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Taken from KeelyNet BBS (214) 324-3501
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Sponsored by Vangard Sciences
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PO BOX 1031
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Mesquite, TX 75150
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There are ABSOLUTELY NO RESTRICTIONS
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on duplicating, publishing or distributing the
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files on KeelyNet!
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August 25, 1991
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SYNETH1.ASC
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This file is from the Journal of General Psychology,
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3:377-287, 1930.
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Tone Shapes : A Novel Type of Synathesia
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by Michael J. Zigler
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Vangard Note...
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Synathesia (SynEthesia in modern parlance) is the confusion of
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senses. Such phenomena allows the subject to "see sounds",
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hear colors, etc.. Any of the senses can be mixed with any
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other sense as a means of perceiving in a different manner.
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This file is placed on KeelyNet because it refers to a novel
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ability to see the geometric forms of sound without the direct
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use of Chladni waveplates (vibrating plates covered with sand
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and excited by sound).
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The attention of the writer has recently been called to the
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occurrence in the experience of two Wellesley College undergraduates
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of an unique type of synaesthesia in which the sound of each of
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several musical instruments is accompanied by a distinctive TRI-
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DIMENSIONAL FORM.
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The fact that musical sounds are associated with color impressions,
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photisms, bidimensional patterns, etc. in the experiences of certain
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persons has been reported in various places since Goethe first
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mentioned the existence of this type of synaesthesia.
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The writer has been unable, however, to discover anywhere in the
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literature descriptions of synaesthetic phenomena in which the
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patterns excited by musical instruments are CLEARLY tri-dimensional
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in form. (3D)
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Summary. We have reported two cases of a novel type of
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synaesthesia. In which the tones of different musical instruments
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give rise to correspondingly DIFFERENT tri-dimensional shapes.
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Every instrument excites a specific form, which maintains roughly
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the same features at all pitches, intensities and durations.
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Page 1
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The higher pitches occasion smaller and lighter, the lower ones
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larger and darker shapes.
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The forms may appear in colors, but color is not always present and
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always plays a role secondary TO THAT OF FORM.
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These phenomena occur chiefly in solo rendition, and possess high
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aesthetic appeal. One subject has experienced the forms as far back
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as she can remember, the other discovered suddenly several years ago
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her capability of realizing them, and they have since gradually
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somewhat improved in definiteness.
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There are striking differences in the forms of the two subjects for
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the same instrument, but the general conditions of their arousal and
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alteration have many points in common.
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In view of this fact, the interpretation is made that the two
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subjects represent a single type of synaesthesia. Evidences for and
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against the hereditary and acquired theories, although somewhat
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favoring the latter view, are inconclusive.
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Relationship of these shapes to EIDETIC imagery is suggested in the
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almost perceptual character of the phenomena, especially in the case
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of Subject A, as well as in the fact that for Subject B under all
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circumstances and for A under the more difficult conditions of their
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arousal, the shapes are realized under voluntary attention.
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Instrument Subject A Subject B
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Flute Thimble or acorn cup Hollow tube
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Saxophone Cup with solid inner Bursting of a mass into
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core rough, jagged, and
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splintery particles
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Bugle Morning glory or pipe Sphere with opening on
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upper side
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Harmonica Series of spatially Flat rectangle
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distributed discs
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Jazz whistle Thick waving streamer Lumpy dough-like
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elongated mass
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Simplexophone Dagger Megaphone of very vague
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outline
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Musical saw Elongated globule with Yards and yards of round
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jagged surface ribbon-like material
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Cello Flat horizontal base Thick ribbon
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with spring-like vertical
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projections
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Violin Tube with enlarged Ribbon much thinner and
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nodules smaller than that of cello
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Piano Quadrangular blocks Spheres
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Page 2
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Vangard notes...
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The discrepancy in the forms seen by the two subjects is the
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most disturbing feature of the article. Either our subjects
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were faking or there is a perceptual "translation" method which
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differs between subjects.
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In addition, the work of Persinger with very low level magnetic
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fields (lower than the Earth's natural magnetic field) shows
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that hallucinations and "eidetic" imagery can be induced. It is
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even possible that the magnetic field in a very small local area
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can be modulated to induce such images. We must also not forget
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magnetic phosphenes, generated by pressure on the closed eyelids
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to produce flashes of light in the eye.
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The late Hans Jenny was attempting to construct a means of
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viewing forms created from sound waves in three dimensions.
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Being aware that John Keely used Chladni waveplates as
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analytical tools in his research with complex vibrations, we
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must also pursue such a line of investigation.
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Jenny used some form of very fine plastic pellets which had a
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degree of cohesiveness. This tendency to "stick" assisted the
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formation of a structure in the Z axis (height) and kept it
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together. Another approach used by Jenny was magnetized iron
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filings which also tended to stick together and form most
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interesting patterns.
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In the late 70's, one of the popular magazines (I believe it was
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Popular Science), reported on a substance called "Ferro-Fluid".
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When placed in a container and held over a speaker magnet, it
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formed very complex 3 dimensional patterns.
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Ferro-Fluid seems to have been very fine metal filings suspended
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in an oil in the form of an emulsion. An address was given for
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those wishing to buy it, but we have yet to locate the article.
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One of our approaches will be a very light, clear oil, something
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like vegetable or mineral oil, to hold such magnetized filings.
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This should provide a beginning for the study of 3-dimensional
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forms induced by sounds.
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--------------------------------------------------------------------
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If you have comments or other information relating to such topics
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as this paper covers, please upload to KeelyNet or send to the
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Vangard Sciences address as listed on the first page.
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Thank you for your consideration, interest and support.
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Jerry W. Decker.........Ron Barker...........Chuck Henderson
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Vangard Sciences/KeelyNet
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If we can be of service, you may contact
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Jerry at (214) 324-8741 or Ron at (214) 242-9346
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Page 3
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