Tag: Thoughts

Thoughts have shape

I haven’t written anything here for ages. Perhaps I haven’t had any weird thoughts. I don’t think that is true; I have had thoughts, lots of them, I just haven’t written about them. Truth is, I’ve had lots of thoughts over the last couple of months, more thoughts than normal. Life is full of smooth, free-flowing times and chaotic, busy, challenging times. I’m currently going through a challenging time. Thinking about my thoughts over these last couple of months, I had a weird thought.

Which is kiki? Which is a negative thought?

Thoughts have shape. Challenging thoughts are angular and sharp. Happy thoughts are bulbous and curvaceous.  Is that because if I were to sit on something angular and sharp I’d be uncomfortable and stressed yet if I lay in something bulbous and curvaceous I might fall asleep? Perhaps. I think I can go deeper.

This weird thought reminds me somewhat of the well-known Bouba-Kiki effect. This ‘effect’ was discovered by psychologist Wolfgang Köhler in 1929. Essentially, this effect describes a phenomenon whereby people, irrespective of language, have a tendency, if asked to choose between two, to give a rounded object (such as the one to the right above) the name ‘bouba’ (originally ‘baluba’ when Köhler first conducted his experiment) and an angular shape the name ‘kiki’ (‘takete’ in the original experiment). The inference here is that we naturally attribute personalities and ‘sounds’ of language to shapes. Round things have ’round’ sounds. Angular things have ‘angular’ sounds. To me, this also applies to thoughts. This indicates a presence of synaesthesia-like mappings in the brain (having the condition myself, I am susceptible to this perhaps more than others). Interestingly, as an aside to this weird thought, studies have shown that individuals with autism do not fall into the predictable patterns of choice of words associated with shapes.

Recent research has been looking into how this effect also relates to something called ideaesthesia. This is the phenomenon where activation of concepts, or ideas, evoke perception-like experiences (scientifically called concurrents). So this is exactly what my ‘thought’ thought is an example of. The concept is ‘the shape of the thought’ and the experience is round or angular.

Recently, I’ve started cycling. I have a super fast bike which takes me for 23 km along the country roads of Shropshire. When I’m a fuzzy mess of chaotic thoughts I get on my bike. As I start my ride, my thoughts are all angular and knocking around inside my head, pinching the sides. The energy they give me translates into my legs as I peddle ever fast up those hills. Then as I take in the beauty of the countryside, hear the bleating of the sheep, smell the soft, comforting smell of manure, my thoughts slowly change shape. The ‘noise’ lessens, the angles curve and round, the sharp edges turn soft and round. My thoughts move on to things that make me happy. They even dissipate to some extent. The thoughts are slower, relaxing and comforting. By the time I return home. The shapes are completely rounded and cotton-wool like.

What shape are their thoughts?

What shape does a weird thought have? I suspect it has both round and sharp elements. As for this one? I’m really not sure. What do you think?

What are people on trains thinking about?

Again, this isn’t a thought from the toilet (I don’t have a great track record with using train toilets having exposed myself once to a smart man in a suit because of my incompetence with Virgin train toilet locks). This is a thought from sitting on a train (I’m writing this blog entry still on a train).

The thought is: what are people on trains thinking about? A secondary thought is: why do they look so depressed? Chances are they are going somewhere at least mildly exciting, so why the glum faces? Even if travelling for work, it is likely to be more interesting than just being in the office. When I get to travel for work I feel quite excited. But perhaps that’s just me. However, today is a weekend day so I imagine most of these people are going somewhere interesting, visiting friends, a football match (the football tops and beer cans might give it away), a stag party (for those dressed as pirates) or a shopping trip. So why do they look so miserable? Perhaps their expression isn’t related to their destination at all, maybe they are having profound philosophical debates with themselves to while away the time getting to this exciting place to which they are going. Or maybe they are trying to work out what to have for lunch. So am I mistaking misery for concentration and quiet solitary contemplation?

If only I could hear them, their thoughts might go thus:

‘Hmmm Coventry next stop. I haven’t been there for years. I should go there again. I wish I’d got a coffee at Birmingham. Thirsty now. Oh well. I’m tired. I have an itch. Ahhh that’s better.’

Man thinking about going to Coventry

Man thinking about going to Coventry

‘I hate this song. I should just forward it. I wonder what is the meaning of life. Hmmm. Ahh this song is better. I do like a bit of One-D.’

Does he like this song or not?

Does he like this song or not?

‘Agh damn nose. I hate this time of year. Major snots. When did I last have some Piriton? I wonder if she’s replied to my text yet? I’m hungry.’



‘I hope we get the chance to watch Britain’s Got Talent tonight. I can’t miss it. Oh we’re approaching Rugby. Ages to go yet. I hope it doesn’t rain today. My hair will frizz up if it gets wet. I need a wee. I hate using train toilets. They stink. Can I last? I’ll just have to try.’

Britain's Got Talent fans

Britain’s Got Talent fans

I often wish I could listen to all the inner dialogues of other people. And if I could hear them, would they be more interesting than mine?