BBC: People who can taste words-2

One of the problems with synaesthesia is for many years it's been dismissed, and it's been viewed as people with an overactive imagination, something not real but actually what research in recent years has taught us is that actually it does have an underlying neurological and genetic basis. 

Guy says that in the past, synaesthesia was often dismissed- considered unimportant or uninteresting. Synaesthetes were labelled people with overactive imaginations- a tendency to imagine thing that are not true. 

But research is showing that the cause of synaesthesia could run in the family. Julie and Jen's brothers don't have synaesthesia, but Jen's daughter does. And with an estimated 4% of the world population having some form of sense mixing, a world of new and exciting possibilities is opening up to millions. 

Exciting possibilities like tasting someone's name... Remember in my question I asked what synesthete, Jen McCready, tastes when she hears the name 'Neil'.

OK. Well, I guessed that 'Neil' tastes like a jam sandwitch. Was I right?

Well, Neil, no- you don't taste like a jam sandwith. In fact, when Jen hears the name 'Neil', she tastes spaghetti hoops! Oh well, it could be worse- the name 'Robert' makes Jen taste rotten eggs! Sorry to any Roberts listening. 

OK, let's recap the vocabulary we've learned in this programme about synaesthesia- a neurological condition where two or more senses mix together. 

A nincompoop is an informal way of saying a silly person. 

A craving for something is the strong desire to have it. 

A vivid sensation is clear, strong and detailed in your mind. 

When something is dismissed, it's considered unimportant or uninteresting. 

And finally, an overactive imagination is the tendency to imagine things that are not true. Once again, our six minutes are up! If you've enjoyed this look into the weird and wonderful world of synaesthesia, we hope you'll join us again next time for more chat, interesting issues and useful vocabulary here at 6 Minute English.