Some women can see 100x more colors than men

[Doug Nelson]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06256/721190-114.stm

[CJ Swartz]

Sadly, I'm not one of those who can see so many more colors, although with practice and effort I am learning to see the difference in a variety of "beiges".

"Imagine a world where the sound of music would make you see colors. Where the note B is sparkling silver and D flat is a wondrous, pure periwinkle. Where the taste of food has a distinctive shape and where the sound of words can leave a bad taste. Even the calendar — days, months and years — can generate specific 3-D images...."
from the ABC Primetime page --
http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=2311762&page=1

I was happy to watch this episode of "Primetime" because I once worked with a lady who heard music and saw colors when she looked at people -- I knew she was an intelligent, sane, sensible person, and we both were excited that a person could have such a gift -- but I have always wondered whether anyone else reacted as she did to people or things. Now I know there are thousands of people who have extra perceptions of their world.

Synesthesia has been previously reported as more common in women and in left-handed individuals. I'm a woman, I'm left-handed -- but I can only hear music and not see it, and most of the text I read is "basic black" (except on those internet pages where every color is used).

[Mike]

Ever notice that almost all the folks that work at pro print labs checking prints for color are women? Or that back in the old days when "color" prints where colored by hand, that women did almost all of that?

[Gary Richardson]

Have you also noticed how most of the good colourisers here at RP are women.

Still, I can lift heavy things.

[chrishoggy]

Also note that they have macro vision when spotting cleaning you have missed, eyes in the back of their head when you try to do something your not supposed to, and are able to spot something you haven't done right from 100 yards away

[NancyJ]

we can also multi-task

Something my employees (all men) often forget.

[chrishoggy]

Multi-tasking doesn't count in my case, as I can do that twice over

Not really, but I can write with both hands at the same time, shoot left and right handed, weld left and right handed, and take things to bits in no time. I can even put them back together and have some spares left over for next time

[Gary Richardson]

Multi-task, that's an Elephant with more than one tooth isn't it?

[chrishoggy]

Gary >

[Littlecoo]

they have macro vision when spotting cleaning you have missed, and are able to spot something you haven't done right from 100 yards away

Well Chris, that's because to us it stands out like a pantone-red flag!

eyes in the back of their head when you try to do something your not supposed to

...superior peripheral vision. We can SEEEE YOU! There is NO escape!

we can also multi-task

Something my employees (all men) often forget.

Poor things
My husband's eyes glaze over when I start discussing anything more 'complicated' than secondary colours with him Hehehe

[byRo]

I'd heard of this before, but what I didn't realize is that the "extra" cone could muck up the cone count for her sons.

Most of them inherit two red or two green cones along with the standard blue cone, making it impossible for them to distinguish between red and green peppers, or tell how well-done a steak is, or pick out matching clothes.

A strange case of anti-inheritance where the "gift" of the mother provokes a "curse" for the son.

Maybe this also explains the terrible "Didn't you notice something different?" question. A subtle shift in the secondary red frequencies of the hair - no we really don't stand a chance.

Rô

[Mike]

I do not see what the big deal is about multi-tasking? Why I my self multi-task all the time. I can walk and breathe, sit and type, sometimes I even walk, breathe and talk all at the same time, no big deal.....

[Gary Richardson]

Yup, and add to that I can drink beer AND watch the Rugby, Grand Prix, Footy, Cricket (choose as appropriate) at the same time, NO PROBLEM.

And for real multi-tasking I can sup beer, watch Footy AND Cricket at the same time by adding the extra task of operating the TV remote control. How much more can you ask?