World of the Bizarre

Woman is able to 'taste' people's names

By T.K. Randall
February 7, 2019

Image: Ice Cream
Credit: St0rmz / CC BY-SA 2.0 (adapted) Julie McDowall from Glasgow, Scotland is able to perceive a person's name as a physical taste thanks to a rare brain condition that causes two or more of her senses to automatically join together.

"I have a neurological condition, synaesthesia, which sounds serious but is actually quite funny," she said. "It means that when I hear a word, I can automatically taste something."

"Sometimes I can get a sensation or an image, but mostly it's just a taste."

"Other people have different versions of synaesthesia where they hear music or see colors but with me I am assaulted by tastes and strange images."For example, the name Brian tastes like shredded coconut, while Graham tastes like cold stew. John has the unfortunate taste of a leathery button, while Danielle tastes distinctly like spaghetti hoops.

Wendy's taste resembles watered-down orange juice while Jesus tastes like Maltesers.

Julie's unique ability has recently prompted countless requests for name 'tasting' on social media.

"It is really entertaining, especially when I'm with [my sister] Jen and we can compare names and laugh at the strange tastes and images which are thrown up," she said.

To have your daft face on the BBC next to some Spaghetti Hoops...that is fame.

BBC News - Why everyone wants this Glasgow woman to taste their name https://t.co/ai9kuLpt3J

— Julie McDowall (@JulieAMcDowall) February 6, 2019

Source: BBC News

Tags: Synaesthesia