Why read Mirror Touch?

Book cover of Mirror Touch: A Memoir of Synesthesia and the Secret Life of the Brain

Book description

In this "rich, fascinating portrait of extraordinary sensory awareness" (Kirkus), acclaimed neurologist Joel Salinas, M.D., tells his amazing true story of living and practicing medicine with mirror-touch synesthesia, a rare neurological trait that allows him to literally feel the emotional and physical experiences of other people. From the corridors of…

Explore

Topics

Neurodiversity

Genres

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked Mirror Touch as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Patricia Lynne Duffy

Author

I never knew there was a name for what medical doctor Joel Salinas described in this fascinating book: Mirror Touch.

If you are one of those people who flinch/touch your own cheek when you see someone slapped in a movie or physically redden or cringe when another person is embarrassed—you, yourself, may have the “mirror touch” capacity that the doctor describes.

As Dr. Salinas explains, all of us have “mirror neurons,” which allow us to feel empathy with other people going through physical or emotional pain. However, some of us, mirror-touch synesthetes like Dr Salinas, can have twice the usual…

From Patricia's list on The best books on neurodiversity by authors who are neurodiverse.