There are several different types of synesthesia-e.g., grapheme-color synesthesia (when someone associates letters of the alphabet and numbers with colors), sound-to-color synesthesia, number-to-form synesthesia and personification-but only one that correlates with food. As explained here, the parts of the brain that correspond to the sexual arousal (genitalia) and motor function (feet) are adjacent to each other and can be cross-wired. The cross-wiring component of synesthesia is similar to the cross-communication theory that explains foot fetishes. In short, stimulation of one sense leads to an involuntary experience in another. That would be synesthesia, a rare neurological condition that causes the sensory messages in the brain to cross-wire. And that would be something entirely different altogether. Perhaps, instead of tasting glue, Ralph tasted white. Now, when I watch The Simpsons, I’m concerned. Turns out it’s a symptom of pica, a disorder connected to autism characterized by an appetite for inedible substances, such as chalk, clay and metal. So I did some good ol’ fashioned Googling. I recently watched a classic episode for the umpteenth time, and it made me wonder why some kids actually do eat glue. But now, as a fully functioning, grown-up member of society, I interpret, rather than just laugh.
Picture Ralph, eating glue and shouting “I’m a brick!”. As a kid, my favorite character was Ralph Wiggum because of his quirky, obscure references and non sequiturs. Some things never change-for instance, my eternal love for The Simpsons.
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