Synesthetic Perception and Multisensory Offerings for Dementia

Warming sunrays, fragrant perfume, gentle birdsong – many different senses are engaged in everyday life. When the sight of a wheat field simultaneously evokes the taste of freshly baked bread, different sensory impressions merge and become a complete perception – this is referred to as ‚synesthesia.‘.

The webinar will present the two concepts of ‚synesthesia‘ and ‚atmosphere‘ as well as their practical significance for the perception and experience of people with dementia. On the one hand, both concepts actively engage the so-called ‚embodied memory‘ - this refers to unconscious memory, such as the recollection of habits or past experiences. On the other hand, ‚synesthesia‘ and ‚atmosphere‘ centrally contribute to achieving well-being. Through synesthetic and atmospheric experiences, such as those induced in music therapy or multisensory ‚Snoezelen‘, a space of well-being can be created for people with dementia.

Ragna Winniewski (M.A.) is a research assistant at Alanus University of Arts and Society in the field of philosophical and aesthetic education. She is pursuing her doctorate at the Philosophical Faculty of the University of Cologne, focusing on synesthetic and multisensory perception, and specifically on how these forms of perception can be applied in the therapeutic field of dementia. In 2022, she received the award from the ‚European University for Wellbeing‘ for her dissertation. She is also a co-founder of the lecture series ‚Transdisciplinary Approaches in Dementia and Aging Research‘ at the University of Cologne, which brings together representatives from theory and practice for dialogue. Based on her own scientific studies and practical experience in a care facility, she will address the specificities of perception in people with dementia in the webinar. She will also present how those affected can achieve relaxation and well-being.

Here you can download the webinar as a PDF..