Savant syndrome
The savant syndrome is a rare condition in which people with neurodevelopmental disorders, notably autism spectrum disorders, and/or brain injuries, demonstrate profound and prodigious capacities and/or abilities far in excess of what would be considered normal. In spite of the name syndrome, it is not recognized as a mental disorder, or as a part of mental disorder. In simple terms these are very gifted individuals with fewer than 50 alive today.
Characteristics
[change | change source]These individuals in some cases may not be able to tie their shoes, however they may memorize an entire book in days.
Notable savants
[change | change source]The following are well-known people with savant syndrome, noted for their talent in their identified fields:
- Wesley Willis, American musician, savant levels of visual recall.
- Kim Peek, mnemonist, speed reader and calculator, although not autistic[1]
- Mark Boerebach, Australian internet Disk jockey, subject of the documentary Rainman goes to Rockwiz
- Alonzo Clemons, American clay sculptor[2]
- Tony DeBlois, blind American musician[3]
- Leslie Lemke, blind American musician[4]
- Jonathan Lerman, American artist[5]
- Thristan Mendoza, Filipino marimba prodigy[6]
- Gottfried Mind, Swiss artist known as the "Raphael of Cats"
- Derek Paravicini, blind British musician[7]
- Anthony Torrone, American Christian writer[8][9]
- Gilles Tréhin, artist, author[10]
- James Henry Pullen, gifted British carpenter[11]
- Matt Savage, American autistic jazz prodigy[12][13]
- Henriett Seth F., Hungarian autistic savant, poet, writer, and artist[14]
- Stephen Wiltshire, British architectural artist[15]
- Richard Wawro, British artist[4]
- George and Charles Finn, calendar calculator twins[16][17]
- Florence 'Flo' and Katherine 'Kay' Lyman, calendar calculator twins. Featured in a documentary produced by TV network TLC entitled Twin Savants: Flo & Kay[18]
- Jason D. Padgett, American mathematical artist[19][20]
- Daniel Tammet, British author.[21]
- Rex Lewis-Clack, blind American pianist.
- Blind Tom Wiggins, blind African American pianist.
- Orlando Serrell, sudden savant, calendrical calculation, mnemonist, featured on English version of Expedition ins Gehirn.
References
[change | change source]- ↑ Weber B (26 December 2009). "Kim Peek, inspiration for 'Rain Man,' dies at 58". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
- ↑ Treffert, Darold. "Alonzo Clemons – Genius Among Us". Wisconsin Medical Society. Archived from the original on 2007-12-13. Retrieved 2007-11-07.
- ↑ Treffert, Darold. "Tony DeBlois – A Prodigious Musical Savant". Wisconsin Medical Society. Archived from the original on 2010-06-26. Retrieved 2007-11-07.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Treffert, Darold A. and Gregory L. Wallace (2003). "Islands of Genius" (PDF). Scientific American, Inc. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-04. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
- ↑ Jonathan Lerman:
- Treffert, Darold. "Jonathan Lerman – An Extraordinary Artist". Wisconsin Medical Society. Archived from the original on 2007-12-13. Retrieved 2007-11-07.
- Blumenthal, Ralph (2002-01-16). "Success at 14, Despite Autism; His Drawings Go for Up to $1,200 and Win High Praise". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-11-05.
- ↑ Treffert, Darold. "Thristan "Tum-Tum" Mendoza – A Child Prodigy Marimbist With Autism from the Philippines". Wisconsin Medical Society. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-11-07.
- ↑ Derek Paravicini:
- Treffert, Darold. "Derek Paravicini – A Talent and Love for Music". Wisconsin Medical Society. Archived from the original on 2010-06-25. Retrieved 2007-11-07.
- "Meet Musical Savant Rex: Lesley Stahl Checks In On A Boy With An Extraordinary Musical Talent". CBS, 60 Minutes. 2005-10-23. Archived from the original on 2007-12-22. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
- ↑ The Grand Rapids Press (26 November 2011). "'Anthony's Prayers': A simple book by Grand Rapids' Anthony Torrone, a grateful survivor". Mlive.com. Retrieved 2012-05-01.
- ↑ Island, Staten (7 January 2012). "'My Lord Savior God helped me survive'". silive.com.
- ↑ Moore, Charlotte (15 April 2006). "Autistic couple bound to each other - and their art". Guardian.
- ↑ James Henry Pullen:
- Ward, O. Conor. "The Childhood and the Life of James Henry Pullen, the Victorian Idiot Savant (1832–1916)", Abstract of article cited at adc.bmjjournals.com Retrieved on 14 June 2006.
- Treffert, Darold. "James Henry Pullen – Genius of Earlswood Asylum". Wisconsin Medical Society. Archived from the original on 2012-09-15. Retrieved 2007-11-07.
- ↑ "Matt Savage: The Prodigy", People magazine June 17, 2002
- ↑ Treffert, Darold. "Matt Savage – A 14-Year-Old Marvelous Musician". Wisconsin Medical Society. Archived from the original on 2007-12-13. Retrieved 2007-11-07.
- ↑ Treffert, Darold. "Henriett Seth F. – Rain Girl". Wisconsin Medical Society. Archived from the original on 2008-02-25. Retrieved 2007-11-07.
- ↑ "Unlocking the brain's potential". BBC News. 2001-03-10. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
- ↑ Horwitz, et al., 1965
- ↑ Sacks, Oliver, 1985
- ↑ Tracey Eagan (2009-05-06). "Twin Savants Fixated on Dick Clark". Jezebel. Retrieved 2009-07-19.
- ↑ Federal Way Man Has Amazing Mathematical Drawing Ability, Following Brain Injury: – KCPQ Archived 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine. Q13fox.com (2010-08-26). Retrieved on 2011-12-18.
- ↑ "The Man Who Draws Pi.pdf". Google Docs.
- ↑ Lyall, Sarah (February 15, 2007). "Brainman, at Rest in His Oasis". New York Times.
Other websites
[change | change source]- The Wisconsin Medical Society lists 29 savant profiles Archived 2012-10-16 at the Wayback Machine.