Savant syndrome#Prodigious savants

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Savant skills are usually found in one or more of five major areas: art, memory, arithmetic, musical abilities, and spatial skills. The most common kinds of savants are calendrical savants,{{cite journal | vauthors = Saloviita T, Ruusila L, Ruusila U | title = Incidence of Savant Syndrome in Finland | journal = Perceptual and Motor Skills | volume = 91 | issue = 1 | pages = 120–2 | date = August 2000 | pmid = 11011882 | doi = 10.2466/pms.2000.91.1.120 | s2cid = 20306664 }} "human calendars" who can calculate the day of the week for any given date with speed and accuracy, or recall personal memories from any given date. Advanced memory is the key "superpower" in savant abilities.

A {{vanchor|calendrical savant}} (or {{vanchor|calendar savant}}) is someone who – despite having an intellectual disability – can name the day of the week of a date, or vice versa, on a limited range of decades or certain millennia.{{cite journal | vauthors = Kennedy DP, Squire LR | title = An analysis of calendar performance in two autistic calendar savants | journal = Learning & Memory | volume = 14 | issue = 8 | pages = 533–8 | date = August 2007 | pmid = 17686947 | pmc = 1951792 | doi = 10.1101/lm.653607 }}{{cite journal |last1=Cowan |first1=Richard |last2=Carney |first2=Daniel P. J. |title=Calendrical savants: Exceptionality and Practice |journal=Cognition |date=June 2006 |volume=100 |issue=2 |pages=B1–B9 |doi=10.1016/j.cognition.2005.08.001 |pmid=16157326 |s2cid=34912923 |url=https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1488985/ |access-date=2021-08-24 |archive-date=2021-08-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829015500/https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1488985/ |url-status=live }} The rarity of human calendar calculators is possibly due to the lack of motivation to develop such skills among the general population, although mathematicians have developed algorithms that allow them to obtain similar skills. Calendrical savants, on the other hand, may not be prone to invest in socially engaging skills.{{cite journal|vauthors=Cowan R, Frith C|date=May 2009|title=Do calendrical savants use calculation to answer date questions? A functional magnetic resonance imaging study|journal=Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences|volume=364|issue=1522|pages=1417–24|doi=10.1098/rstb.2008.0323|pmc=2677581|pmid=19528025}}

No widely accepted cognitive theory explains savants' combination of talent and deficit.{{cite journal |doi=10.1111/j.1469-8749.2005.tb01180.x |title=Savant talent |year=2005 |last1=Pring |first1=Linda |journal=Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology |volume=47 |issue=7 |pages=500–503 |doi-access=free |pmid=15991873 }} It has been suggested that individuals with autism are biased towards detail-focused processing and that this cognitive style predisposes individuals either with or without autism to savant talents.{{cite journal |vauthors=Happé F, Vital P |date=May 2009 |title=What aspects of autism predispose to talent? |url=http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13489714 |url-status=live |journal=Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences |publisher=The Economist |volume=364 |issue=1522 |pages=1369–75 |doi=10.1098/rstb.2008.0332 |pmc=2677590 |pmid=19528019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090419023351/http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13489714 |archive-date=April 19, 2009 |access-date=April 16, 2009}} Another hypothesis is that savants hyper-systemize, thereby giving an impression of talent. Hyper-systemizing is an extreme state in the empathising–systemising theory that classifies people based on their skills in empathizing with others versus systemizing facts about the external world.{{cite journal | vauthors = Baron-Cohen S, Ashwin E, Ashwin C, Tavassoli T, Chakrabarti B | title = Talent in autism: hyper-systemizing, hyper-attention to detail and sensory hypersensitivity | journal = Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences | volume = 364 | issue = 1522 | pages = 1377–83 | date = May 2009 | pmid = 19528020 | pmc = 2677592 | doi = 10.1098/rstb.2008.0337 }} Also, the attention to detail of savants is a consequence of enhanced perception or sensory hypersensitivity in these unique individuals.{{cite journal | vauthors = Mottron L, Dawson M, Soulières I | title = Enhanced perception in savant syndrome: patterns, structure and creativity | journal = Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences | volume = 364 | issue = 1522 | pages = 1385–91 | date = May 2009 | pmid = 19528021 | pmc = 2677591 | doi = 10.1098/rstb.2008.0333 }} It has also been hypothesized that some savants operate by directly accessing deep, unfiltered information that exists in all human brains that is not normally available to conscious awareness.{{cite journal |vauthors=Snyder A |date=May 2009 |title=Explaining and inducing savant skills: privileged access to lower level, less-processed information |url=http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13489714 |url-status=live |journal=Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences |publisher=The Economist |volume=364 |issue=1522 |pages=1399–405 |doi=10.1098/rstb.2008.0290 |pmc=2677578 |pmid=19528023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090419023351/http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13489714 |archive-date=April 19, 2009 |access-date=April 16, 2009}}

In some cases, savant syndrome can be induced following severe head trauma to the left anterior temporal lobe. Savant syndrome has been artificially replicated using low-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation to temporarily disable this area of the brain.{{cite journal | vauthors = Snyder A | title = Explaining and inducing savant skills: privileged access to lower level, less-processed information | journal = Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences | volume = 364 | issue = 1522 | pages = 1399–405 | date = May 2009 | pmid = 19528023 | pmc = 2677578 | doi = 10.1098/rstb.2008.0290 }}

{{See also|Epidemiology of autism}}

There are no objectively definitive statistics about how many people have savant skills. The estimates range from "exceedingly rare"{{Cite web |url=http://www.psy.dmu.ac.uk/drhiles/Savant%20Syndrome.htm |title=Savant Syndrome |access-date=2012-10-06 |author=Hiles, Dave|date=2001|publisher=De Montfort University |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025162925/http://www.psy.dmu.ac.uk/drhiles/Savant%20Syndrome.htm |archive-date=2012-10-25 |url-status=dead }} to one in ten people with autism having savant skills in varying degrees. A 2009 British study of 137 parents of autistic children found that 28% believe their children met the criteria for a savant skill, defined as a skill or power "at a level that would be unusual even for 'normal' people".{{cite journal |vauthors=Howlin P, Goode S, Hutton J, Rutter M |date=May 2009 |title=Savant skills in autism: psychometric approaches and parental reports |url=http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13489714 |url-status=live |journal=Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences |publisher=The Economist |volume=364 |issue=1522 |pages=1359–67 |doi=10.1098/rstb.2008.0328 |pmc=2677586 |pmid=19528018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090419023351/http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13489714 |archive-date=April 19, 2009 |access-date=April 16, 2009}} As many as 50 cases of sudden or acquired savant syndrome have been reported.{{cite news|url=http://articles.philly.com/2012-08-20/news/33273378_1_brain-injury-owens-answers-car-crash/2|title=An artist is born after car crash|work=The Inquirer|location=Philadelphia|first=Monica|last=Yant-Kinney|name-list-style=vanc|date=2012-08-20|access-date=2012-11-24|archive-date=2013-01-31|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131045131/http://articles.philly.com/2012-08-20/news/33273378_1_brain-injury-owens-answers-car-crash/2|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11544405/A-ski-accident-left-me-with-advanced-mental-abilities-US-woman-tells-her-extraordinary-story.html|title='A ski accident left me with advanced mental abilities': US woman tells her extraordinary story|work=Daily Telegraph|date=17 April 2015|access-date=5 April 2018|archive-date=25 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925091855/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11544405/A-ski-accident-left-me-with-advanced-mental-abilities-US-woman-tells-her-extraordinary-story.html/|url-status=live}}

Males diagnosed with savant syndrome outnumber females by roughly 6:1 (in Finland),Treffert, Darold. [http://www.centreforthemind.com/publications/gpsbook.pdf A Visual Feast] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925092802/http://www.centreforthemind.com/publications/gpsbook.pdf |date=2020-09-25 }} slightly higher than the sex ratio disparity for autism spectrum disorders of 4.3:1.{{cite journal | vauthors = Newschaffer CJ, Croen LA, Daniels J, Giarelli E, Grether JK, Levy SE, Mandell DS, Miller LA, Pinto-Martin J, Reaven J, Reynolds AM, Rice CE, Schendel D, Windham GC | title = The epidemiology of autism spectrum disorders | journal = Annual Review of Public Health | volume = 28 | pages = 235–58 | year = 2007 | pmid = 17367287 | doi = 10.1146/annurev.publhealth.28.021406.144007 |doi-access=free}}

The term {{lang|fr|idiot savant}} (French for 'learned idiot') was first used to describe the condition in 1887[https://archive.org/details/b21952619/page/98/mode/2up lecture 3] of On some of the mental affections of childhood and youth, Down 1887 by John Langdon Down, who is known for his description of Down syndrome. Down described approximately ten cases of youth he had known with unusual mental powers, like "verbal adhesion" (eg. memorizing books read once), photographic memory for artistic drawing or model-building or music, autobiographical memory, arithmetic & calendrical calculation, & always knowing the current time down to the minute. Down noted that they were all male, none had a family history of similar talents, and that the extraordinary memory was usually associated with "very great defect of reasoning power".

The term idiot savant was later described as a misnomer because not all reported cases fit the definition of idiot, originally used for a person with a very severe intellectual disability. The term {{ill|autistic savant|fr|Autisme savant|italics=yes|v=sup}} was also used as a description of the disorder. Like idiot savant, the term came to be considered a misnomer because only half of those who were diagnosed with savant syndrome were autistic. Upon realization of the need for accuracy of diagnosis and dignity towards the individual, the term savant syndrome became widely accepted terminology.

• Daniel Tammet, British author and polyglot
• Derek Paravicini, British blind musical prodigy and pianist
• Henriett Seth F., Hungarian autistic writer and artist
• Nadia Chomyn, British autistic artist
• Kim Peek, American "megasavant"
• Leslie Lemke, American musician
• Rex Lewis-Clack, American pianist and musical savant
• Matt Savage, American musician
• Richard Wawro, British crayon artist
• Stephen Wiltshire, British architectural artist
• Temple Grandin,{{cite magazine |last1=McGowan |first1=Kat |date=March 13, 2013 |title=Exploring Temple Grandin's Brain |url=http://discovermagazine.com/2013/april/2-exploring-temple-grandins-brain |magazine=Discover Magazine |access-date=June 20, 2018 |archive-date=April 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403073144/http://discovermagazine.com/2013/april/2-exploring-temple-grandins-brain |url-status=dead }} American professor of animal science
• Blind Tom Wiggins, American blind pianist and composer{{cite book|last1=Badcock|first1=Christopher|title=The Imprinted Brain: How Genes Set the Balance Between Autism and Psychosis|date=2009|publisher=Jessica Kingsley|location=London|isbn=9781849050234|page=29|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PG0uZ5UnuFEC&q=Wiggins&pg=PA29|access-date=2020-10-28|archive-date=2021-08-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818154758/https://books.google.com/books?id=PG0uZ5UnuFEC&q=Wiggins&pg=PA29|url-status=live}}
• Tommy McHugh, British artist and poet
• Kodi Lee, 2019 America's Got Talent winner (musician)

• Alonzo Clemons, American acquired savant sculptor
• Tony Cicoria, American acquired savant pianist and medical doctor
• Derek Amato, American acquired savant composer and pianist
• Patrick Fagerberg, American acquired savant artist, inventor and former lawyer
• Orlando Serrell, American acquired savant
• Jason Padgett, American acquired savant and artist

• Shaun Murphy, autistic savant in the 2017 American medical drama television series The Good Doctor.
• Raymond Babbitt, autistic savant in the 1988 film Rain Man (inspired by Kim Peek)
• Park Shi-on, autistic savant in the 2013 South Korean medical drama Good Doctor
• Kazan, autistic savant in the 1997 film Cube
• Patrick Obyedkov, acquired savant in a 2007 episode of the U.S. medical drama House.
• Forrest Gump, savant in the 1986 novel Forrest Gump by Winston Groom.{{cite book |first=Walter |last=Kaweski |title=Teaching Adolescents With Autism: Practical Strategies for the Inclusive Classroom |date=11 May 2011 |publisher=Corwin Press |page=5}}
• Will Hunting from the film Good Will Hunting is a mathematical genius and savant.{{Cite web |title=Good Will Hunting: "Don't infect him with the idea that it's okay to be failure, because it's not." How Good Will Hunting explores success, fear of failure and life satisfaction. {{!}} The Adaptability Practice - Sydney |url=https://www.adaptabilitypractice.com.au/blog/the-psychology-of-tv-and-movies-good-will-hunting-hints-at-how-humans-find-purpose/ |access-date=2024-06-16 |website=www.adaptabilitypractice.com.au |language=en}}
• Sheldon Cooper is an autistic (Aspergers) savant with an eidetic memory and exceptional mathematical skills.{{Cite web |date=2018-05-11 |title=Sheldon Cooper- A Case Study |url=https://aisforaoifenotautism.com/2018/05/11/sheldon-cooper-a-case-study/ |access-date=2024-06-16 |website=A Is For Aoife Not Autism |language=en}}
• Beth Harmon from The Queen's Gambit is a savant with an interest in chess.{{Cite web |last=Davidson |first=Dylan |title='The Queen's Gambit' review: The struggles of a savant |url=https://lmcexperience.com/top-stories/2020/12/21/the-queens-gambit-review-the-struggles-of-a-savant/ |access-date=2024-06-16 |website=Experience}}
• Ireneo Funes, acquired savant in the 1942 short story Funes the Memorious by Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges.

• Autistic art
• Child prodigy
• Creativity and mental health
• Mental calculator
• Hyperthymesia
• Ideasthesia
• Twice exceptional

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{{Medical condition classification and resources

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| ICD9 = {{ICD9|315.8}}

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| MedlinePlus = 001526

| MeSH = D000067877

| GeneReviewsNBK = NBK1442

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{{Pervasive developmental disorders}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Savant Syndrome}}

Category:Giftedness

Category:Syndromes

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Category:Exceptional memory