Mirror Touch Synesthesia is the sensation of touching while observing interaction with another individual and is quite uncommon. If a person with mirror-touch synaesthesia watched that person’s arm being touched, they would feel the same way if they were being touched themselves.
Why does Mirror Touch Synesthesia happen?
Mirror touch synesthesia’s specific cause is unknown, however, it is widely believed to be related to how the brain processes sensory information. This disease is thought to result from excessively high levels of communication across the brain regions in charge of processing both touch and sight.
How Mirror Touch Synesthesia Shows Up
People with mirror-touch synesthesia describe a variety of symptoms, including the ability to feel other people’s touches and to sense other people’s moods and experiences just by looking at them. A person with mirror-touch synesthesia experiences a kinaesthetic sense of touch for objects they see in a mirror.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Tests of behavior and self-reports are performed to determine whether someone has mirror touch synesthesia. The patient may undergo a number of tests to determine whether they have mirror-touch synesthesia, as well as a physical examination to rule out any other disorders that could be the source of the symptoms.
Mirror-touch synesthesia is not now specifically treated, however, it is generally accepted that the condition is not harmful. However, some people could find it upsetting or distracting and seek treatment or counseling to learn coping mechanisms.
Conclusion
An uncommon condition called mirror touch synesthesia alters how a person perceives touch. It results from the excessive connection between the brain regions responsible for touch and vision. When you have mirror-touch synesthesia, you are able to experience both the touch and the emotions and sensations of the individual being touched. Mirror-touch synesthesia is currently untreatable, but some persons may find that therapy or counseling helps them cope.
