Synesthetic Explorations: An Autoethnographic Study on Music, Color, and Creativity/Pitch A
Pitch Test: A - Overview
[edit | edit source]This section provides a detailed analysis of synesthetic responses to the pitch A, across six battery tests. Each test measured RGB values and associated Z-scores, examining the color outputs for consistency and outliers.
Subject Name: Arnaud Quercy
Battery Cycle Completion Times - Pitch A
| Battery | Start Time | Finish Time | Time Span |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery 1 | 09:16 | 09:21 | 5 min |
| Battery 2 | 10:17 | 10:18 | 1 min |
| Battery 3 | 11:11 | 11:16 | 5 min |
| Battery 4 | 10:54 | 11:00 | 6 min |
| Battery 5 | 14:37 | 14:40 | 3 min |
| Battery 6 | 14:51 | 14:56 | 5 min |
Number of Data Sets per Pitch (3 tests by battery) x 6 = 18
Test Data Overview
[edit | edit source]Data Set Analysis: For each test, the average (mean) and standard deviation (STD) of RGB values were calculated to determine central tendencies and variation in the data.
Distance Calculations: Relative Distances- Calculated as the absolute difference between the current and previous RGB values, normalized by 255 to express the difference as a percentage.
Z-Score Calculation: Z-scores were used to measure how far each RGB value deviates from the average, helping to identify outliers.
Normalized Distribution: Each RGB value was normalized to a scale between 0 and 1 using the minimum and maximum values of the dataset.
Closeness to Target Color (Euclidean Distance) Calculated to measure the distance between each test result and the corrected average (target color). If the distance was less than 30%, the result was classified as “Close”; otherwise, it was classified as “Off.”
Test Data Overview for Pitch A (including RGB distances, Z-scores, and normalized distributions)
| Test | Battery | Test ID | Timestamp | Battery ID | R | G | B | Color Name | R dist | G dist | B dist | Total Dist | R Z-Score | G Z-Score | B Z-Score | Outlier Status | Closeness to Avg (%) | Closeness Classification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 14446796 | 09:16:23 | 236369 | 174 | 255 | 4 | Yellow-Green | 49% | 3% | 2% | 54% | 0.18 | 0.51 | -0.46 | Inliner | 5.49% | CLOSE |
| 2 | 1 | 14446814 | 09:20:42 | 236369 | 108 | 246 | 28 | Yellow-Green | 26% | 4% | 9% | 39% | -0.76 | 0.34 | -0.02 | Inliner | 10.83% | CLOSE |
| 3 | 1 | 14446820 | 09:21:41 | 236369 | 219 | 246 | 61 | Yellow-Green | 44% | 0% | 13% | 56% | 0.82 | 0.34 | 0.57 | Inliner | 18.80% | CLOSE |
| 4 | 2 | 14446975 | 10:17:46 | 236392 | 154 | 244 | 20 | Yellow-Green | 25% | 1% | 16% | 42% | -0.11 | 0.31 | -0.17 | Inliner | 2.10% | CLOSE |
| 5 | 2 | 14446980 | 10:18:13 | 236392 | 157 | 229 | 5 | Yellow-Green | 1% | 6% | 6% | 13% | -0.06 | 0.04 | -0.44 | Inliner | 4.15% | CLOSE |
| 6 | 2 | 14446982 | 10:18:26 | 236392 | 155 | 229 | 23 | Yellow-Green | 1% | 0% | 7% | 8% | -0.09 | 0.04 | -0.11 | Inliner | 4.69% | CLOSE |
| 7 | 3 | 14447010 | 11:11:43 | 236393 | 70 | 229 | 4 | Yellow-Green | 33% | 0% | 7% | 41% | -1.30 | 0.04 | -0.46 | Inliner | 19.17% | CLOSE |
| 8 | 3 | 14447033 | 11:15:42 | 236393 | 223 | 68 | 177 | Violet | 60% | 63% | 68% | 191% | 0.87 | -2.88 | 2.67 | Outlier | 57.32% | OFF |
| 9 | 3 | 14447037 | 11:16:25 | 236393 | 242 | 87 | 175 | Violet | 7% | 7% | 1% | 16% | 1.15 | -2.54 | 2.63 | Outlier | 55.49% | OFF |
| 10 | 4 | 14453145 | 10:54:03 | 236593 | 244 | 255 | 0 | Yellow | 1% | 66% | 69% | 135% | 1.17 | 0.51 | -0.53 | Inliner | 20.93% | CLOSE |
| 11 | 4 | 14453152 | 10:57:07 | 236593 | 209 | 255 | 2 | Yellow | 14% | 0% | 1% | 15% | 0.68 | 0.51 | -0.49 | Inliner | 13.08% | CLOSE |
| 12 | 4 | 14453165 | 11:00:26 | 236593 | 233 | 248 | 6 | Yellow | 9% | 3% | 2% | 14% | 1.02 | 0.38 | -0.42 | Inliner | 18.23% | CLOSE |
| 13 | 5 | 14453327 | 14:37:10 | 236597 | 27 | 252 | 3 | Yellow-Green | 81% | 2% | 1% | 84% | -1.92 | 0.45 | -0.48 | Inliner | 28.55% | CLOSE |
| 14 | 5 | 14453330 | 14:37:54 | 236597 | 95 | 249 | 2 | Yellow-Green | 27% | 1% | 0% | 28% | -0.95 | 0.40 | -0.49 | Inliner | 13.24% | CLOSE |
| 15 | 5 | 14453341 | 14:40:11 | 236597 | 242 | 246 | 6 | Yellow | 58% | 1% | 2% | 60% | 1.15 | 0.34 | -0.42 | Inliner | 20.25% | CLOSE |
| 16 | 6 | 14453359 | 14:51:13 | 236599 | 190 | 252 | 1 | Yellow-Green | 20% | 2% | 2% | 25% | 0.41 | 0.45 | -0.51 | Inliner | 8.86% | CLOSE |
| 17 | 6 | 14453365 | 14:52:50 | 236599 | 118 | 250 | 3 | Yellow-Green | 28% | 1% | 1% | 30% | -0.62 | 0.42 | -0.48 | Inliner | 8.12% | CLOSE |
| 18 | 6 | 14453380 | 14:56:29 | 236599 | 48 | 247 | 8 | Yellow-Green | 27% | 1% | 2% | 31% | -1.62 | 0.36 | -0.39 | Inliner | 23.71% | CLOSE |
| Statistic | R | G | B | Color Name | Closeness to Avg (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 162 | 227 | 29 | Yellow-Green | 18.50% |
| Min | 27 | 68 | 0 | Yellow-Green | 2.10% |
| Max | 244 | 255 | 177 | Yellow-Green | 57.32% |
| Standard Dev (value) | 70 | 55 | 55 | ||
| Standard Dev (%) | 28% | 22% | 22% | 15.65% |
Geometric Distance Results
[edit | edit source]Pass/Fail Classification: Texsyn Toolbox Method-Tests are evaluated based on Euclidean distances. If the total distance are less than 1, the test is classified as “Pass,” and if greater than 1, the test is classified as “Fail.” This method aligns with the Synesthesia Battery / Texsyn Toolbox. https://synesthete.ircn.jp/files/EaglemanetalSynesthesiaBattery2006.pdf
| Battery | R Dist | G Dist | B Dist | Total Distance | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery 1 | 0.87 | 0.07 | 0.45 | 1.39 | FAILED |
| Battery 2 | 0.02 | 0.12 | 0.14 | 0.28 | PASS |
| Battery 3 | 1.35 | 1.26 | 1.36 | 3.97 | FAILED |
| Battery 4 | 0.27 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.38 | PASS |
| Battery 5 | 1.69 | 0.05 | 0.03 | 1.76 | FAILED |
| Battery 6 | 1.11 | 0.04 | 0.05 | 1.21 | FAILED |
Average RGB Without Outliers (Z-score < abs(2))
[edit | edit source]Recalculation Excluding Outliers: After identifying outliers, averages, minimums, and maximums were recalculated to define a more accurate target color by excluding extreme values.
| Statistic | R | G | B | Color Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 153 | 246 | 11 | Yellow-Green |
| Min | 119 | 241 | 3 | Yellow-Green |
| Max | 187 | 250 | 19 | Yellow-Green |
| Standard Error | 17 | 2 | 4 | |
| Margin of Error (%) | 13.34% | 1.73% | 3.03% | 6.03% |
| Number of Inliners | 16 | 16 | 16 | 89% |
Average RGB of Outliers Only (Z-score > abs(2))
[edit | edit source]Outlier Identification and Trend Analysis: Outliers are analyzed separately to explore possible patterns or relationships between pitch proximity and color, considering color blindness and relative pitch shifts.
| Statistic | R | G | B | Color Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 233 | 78 | 176 | Violet |
| Number of Outliers | 2 | 2 | 2 | 11% |
Analysis
[edit | edit source]Refined Analysis
The Pitch A analysis provides insights into synesthetic responses, focusing on color consistency, variability, and the role of outliers.
Color Consistency and Range
Most data points are concentrated in the Yellow to Yellow-Orange range, demonstrating high consistency. This is particularly evident in the Green and Blue channels, where the standard deviations are relatively low (Green: STD 55/255 = 22%, Blue: STD 55/255 = 22%). This consistency indicates a stable perception of color in these channels, with minimal shifts in hue.
Red Channel Variability
The Red channel exhibits significant variability (STD 70/255 = 28%), leading to noticeable shifts in overall color perception. When outliers are excluded, the average color shifts towards Yellow-Green (Average RGB: 153, 246, 11). This suggests that distortions in the Red channel have a considerable impact on the perceived color, affecting the final averaged results.
Outlier Identification
Two significant outliers were identified, both in the Violet range, which stands out as inconsistent with the other results. These outliers signal potential cognitive shifts, possibly caused by relative pitch proximity or semi-tone variability rather than by color blindness, as there is no obvious connection between Yellow-Orange and Violet hues.
Geometric Distance Results
The Euclidean distance analysis shows that four of the six battery tests (Batteries 1, 3, 5, and 6) failed, with total distances exceeding the threshold of 1. For example, Battery 3 reported a total distance of 3.97, far above the threshold, indicating inconsistent synesthetic responses. This suggests variability in perception, which could be influenced by external factors such as pitch proximity or cognitive shifts.
Closeness to Target Color
The average closeness to the target color across the dataset is 18.50%, with a minimum closeness of 2.10% and a maximum of 57.32%. The majority of values fall within a reasonable range, reinforcing the observation that the data points are largely consistent, except for the few outliers. This suggests that while synesthetic perception tends to be stable, there are occasional deviations that can be attributed to pitch or perceptual shifts.
Color Blindness and Relative Pitch Sensitivity
The analysis highlights the possible influence of color blindness and relative pitch sensitivity on the data. The oscillation between Yellow-Orange and Yellow-Green is likely influenced by color blindness, as these hues are perceptually close on the color spectrum, especially on a 12-segment color wheel (Orange, Yellow-Orange, Yellow, and Yellow-Green). In contrast, the outliers in the Violet range are more likely to be caused by relative pitch sensitivity, as they do not correspond to a typical color blindness spectrum but could reflect a shift due to semi-tone proximity.
Conclusion
Overall, the Pitch A dataset demonstrates a stable synesthetic response within a defined color range, with occasional variability likely induced by both color blindness and relative pitch shifts. The findings suggest that while the synesthetic perception of Pitch A is largely consistent, external factors such as pitch proximity and individual perceptual differences must be considered when analyzing synesthetic responses.
Calculation Formulas
[edit | edit source]- Standard Deviation (%):
Formula: (Standard Deviation / 255) * 100 Explanation: Since RGB values range between 0 and 255, this formula normalizes the standard deviation to provide a percentage, making it easier to interpret the variability relative to the total possible range.
- R dist / G dist / B dist:
Formula: `(abs(Current Value - Previous Value)) / 255` Explanation: This formula calculates the relative distance between RGB values of consecutive tests as a percentage of the maximum possible difference (255).
- Total Dist:
Formula: `R dist + G dist + B dist` Explanation: The sum of normalized distances for R, G, and B values to measure the total change between tests.
- Z-Score (R, G, B):
Formula: `(Current Value - Mean Value) / Standard Deviation` Explanation: Measures how far each RGB value deviates from the mean, standardized by the standard deviation.
- Norm Dist (R, G, B):
Formula: `(Current Value - Min Value) / (Max Value - Min Value)` Explanation: Normalizes RGB values between 0 and 1, based on the range of observed values in the data.
- Closeness to Avg (Euclidean Distance):
Formula: `sqrt((R - Avg R)² + (G - Avg G)² + (B - Avg B)²) / Max Distance` Explanation: The closeness to the average is calculated using Euclidean distance. This measures how far the current RGB values are from the average in three-dimensional space, normalized by the maximum distance.
- Closeness Classification:
Formula: `=IF(Closeness to Avg > 0.3, "OFF", "CLOSE")` Explanation: The threshold is set at 30% of the maximum Euclidean distance to account for variability. Values over 30% are classified as "OFF", while values under are "CLOSE".
- Average (R, G, B):
Formula: (Sum of Values) / (Number of Values) Explanation: The average is the sum of all RGB values divided by the number of tests. It provides the central tendency o the data.
- Standard Error (R, G, B):
Formula: Standard Deviation / sqrt(N) Explanation: The standard error measures the precision of the average RGB values, considering the variance and number of data points.
- Margin of Error (R, G, B):
Formula: 1.96 * Standard Deviation Explanation: This formula calculates the margin of error, which provides a range around the average in which the true value likely falls 95% of the time.
- Margin of Error Re-baselined (%):
Formula: (Margin of Error / 255) * 100 Explanation: This formula converts the absolute margin of error to a percentage by re-baselining it to the maximum RGB value of 255.