Drugs or neurology?

If you have a keen interest in the late Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd fame, or you are more interested in the relationship between synaesthesia and creativity, you may wish to have a look at my discussion of Barrett's synaesthesia in my list of famous synaesthetes. I've found more evidence which I believe adds to the case that Barrett was a natural synesthete. This is probably good news to those of us who have argued that natural developmental gene-based synaesthesia contributes towards creativity, because Mr Barrett certainly was a great example of a person possessed of a highly original creativity in music. My discussion is probably bad news to the many people who believe that creativity can be enhanced by the use of mind-bending drugs. Mr Barrett certainly used a variety of drugs during a specific period of his life, but one could argue that the importance of this drug use as contributing towards his creativity and his withdrawal from public life has been over-stated.

I'm sorry son, those pills and those funny cigarettes most likely aren't going to help you to write a hit song. It might be that a goodly helping of autistic obsession and autistic originality, combined with a synaesthete's ability to make innovative connections between ideas is what you need. Or perhaps what you need is solid work ethic combined with years of musical training and a bit of natural talent.

Fifty famous synaesthetes or possible synesthetes: a list with references.
http://incorrectpleasures.blogspot.com/2009/01/famous-synaesthetes-or-possible.html