Savant syndrome explained

Synonyms:Autistic savant, savant syndrome (historical)
Field:Psychiatry, neurology
Symptoms:General intellectual disability with certain abilities far in excess of average[1]
Types:Congenital, acquired[2]
Causes:Neurodevelopmental disorder such as autism spectrum disorder, brain injury
Frequency:~1 in a million people

Savant syndrome is a phenomenon where someone demonstrates exceptional aptitude in one domain, such as art or mathematics, with such aptitude often coinciding with some form of social or intellectual impairment.

Those with the condition generally have a neurodevelopmental condition, such as autism, or have experienced a brain injury. About half of cases are associated with autism, and these individuals may be known as autistic savants. The other half often have some form of central nervous system injury or disease. While the condition usually becomes apparent in childhood, some cases develop later in life. It is not recognized as a mental disorder within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), as it relates to parts of the brain healing or restructuring.[3]

Savant syndrome is estimated to affect around one in a million people.[4] The condition affects more males than females, at a ratio of 6:1. The first medical account of the condition was in 1783. It is estimated that between 0.5% and 10% of those with autism have some form of savant abilities.[5] [6] It is estimated that fewer than one hundred prodigious savants are currently living, with skills so extraordinary that they would be considered spectacular even among unimpaired individuals.[7]

Signs and symptoms

Savant skills are usually found in one or more of five major areas: art, memory, arithmetic, musical abilities, and spatial skills.[7] The most common kinds of savants are calendrical savants,[8] "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.[8]

Calendrical savants

A (or) 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.[9] [10] 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.[10] Calendrical savants, on the other hand, may not be prone to invest in socially engaging skills.[11]

Mechanism

Psychological

No widely accepted cognitive theory explains savants' combination of talent and deficit.[12] 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.[13]

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.[14] Also, the attention to detail of savants is a consequence of enhanced perception or sensory hypersensitivity in these unique individuals.[15] 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.[16]

Further researchers have proposed the autism-linked trait of obsessiveness as a contributing factor to savant syndrome. In other words, some savants may over-rehearse their skills due to obsessive special-interest.[17] A 2012 study showed that savant children are likely to score higher on a 'obsessions and special interest' metric than their autistic-nonsavant counterparts.[18]

Neurological

In some cases, savant syndrome can be induced following severe head trauma to the left anterior temporal lobe.[7] Savant syndrome has been artificially replicated using low-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation to temporarily disable this area of the brain.[19]

Epidemiology

See also: Epidemiology of autism. There are no objectively definitive statistics about how many people have savant skills. The estimates range from "exceedingly rare"[20] to one in ten people with autism having savant skills in varying degrees.[7] 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.[21] As many as 50 cases of sudden or acquired savant syndrome have been reported.[22] [23]

The sex ratio disparity is slightly higher than for autism spectrum disorders of 4.3:1.[24]

History

The term French: idiot savant (French for 'learned idiot') was first used to describe the condition in 1887[25] 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" (e.g. memorizing books read once), photographic memory for artistic drawing, 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 autistic savant 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.[7] [20]

Society and culture

Notable cases

Acquired cases

Fictional cases

See also

Notes and References

  1. Miller LK . January 1999 . The savant syndrome: intellectual impairment and exceptional skill . Psychological Bulletin . 125 . 1 . 31–46 . 10.1037/0033-2909.125.1.31 . 9990844.
  2. Book: Neurodegenerative Diseases . Hughes JR . 2012 . 978-1-4614-0652-5 . Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology . 724 . 332–43 . The Savant Syndrome and Its Possible Relationship to Epilepsy . 10.1007/978-1-4614-0653-2_25 . 22411254.
  3. Book: Sperry, Len . Mental Health and Mental Disorders: An Encyclopedia of Conditions, Treatments, and Well-Being [3 volumes]

    An Encyclopedia of Conditions, Treatments, and Well-Being ]

    . 2015 . ABC-CLIO . 9781440803833 . 969 . 2020-08-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200925091755/https://books.google.com/books?id=NzgVCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA969%2F . 2020-09-25 . live.
  4. Book: Hyltenstam, Kenneth . Advanced Proficiency and Exceptional Ability in Second Languages . Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG . 2016 . 9781614515173 . 258 . 2020-08-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200925091804/https://books.google.com/books?id=DOfCDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA258%2F . 2020-09-25 . live.
  5. Treffert . Darold A. . vanc . The Autistic Savant . live . Wisconsin Medical Society . https://web.archive.org/web/20190713222135/https://www.wisconsinmedicalsociety.org/professional/savant-syndrome/resources/articles/the-autistic-savant/ . 2019-07-13 . 2014-07-24.
  6. 2014-07-12 . Savant Syndrome Statistics . live . Health Research Funding . https://web.archive.org/web/20200925091837/https://healthresearchfunding.org/savant-syndrome-statistics// . 2020-09-25 . 2014-07-24.
  7. Treffert DA . May 2009 . The savant syndrome: an extraordinary condition. A synopsis: past, present, future . Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences . 364 . 1522 . 1351–7 . 10.1098/rstb.2008.0326 . 2677584 . 19528017.
  8. Saloviita T, Ruusila L, Ruusila U . Incidence of Savant Syndrome in Finland . Perceptual and Motor Skills . 91 . 1 . 120–2 . August 2000 . 11011882 . 10.2466/pms.2000.91.1.120 . 20306664 .
  9. Kennedy DP, Squire LR . An analysis of calendar performance in two autistic calendar savants . Learning & Memory . 14 . 8 . 533–8 . August 2007 . 17686947 . 1951792 . 10.1101/lm.653607 .
  10. Cowan . Richard . Carney . Daniel P. J. . Calendrical savants: Exceptionality and Practice . Cognition . June 2006 . 100 . 2 . B1–B9 . 10.1016/j.cognition.2005.08.001 . 16157326 . 34912923 . 2021-08-24 . 2021-08-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210829015500/https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1488985/ . live .
  11. Cowan R, Frith C. May 2009. Do calendrical savants use calculation to answer date questions? A functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences. 364. 1522. 1417–24. 10.1098/rstb.2008.0323. 2677581. 19528025.
  12. 10.1111/j.1469-8749.2005.tb01180.x . Savant talent . 2005 . Pring . Linda . Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology . 47 . 7 . 500–503 . free . 15991873 .
  13. Happé F, Vital P . May 2009 . What aspects of autism predispose to talent? . live . Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences . The Economist . 364 . 1522 . 1369–75 . 10.1098/rstb.2008.0332 . 2677590 . 19528019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090419023351/http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13489714 . April 19, 2009 . April 16, 2009.
  14. Baron-Cohen S, Ashwin E, Ashwin C, Tavassoli T, Chakrabarti B . Talent in autism: hyper-systemizing, hyper-attention to detail and sensory hypersensitivity . Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences . 364 . 1522 . 1377–83 . May 2009 . 19528020 . 2677592 . 10.1098/rstb.2008.0337 .
  15. Mottron L, Dawson M, Soulières I . Enhanced perception in savant syndrome: patterns, structure and creativity . Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences . 364 . 1522 . 1385–91 . May 2009 . 19528021 . 2677591 . 10.1098/rstb.2008.0333 .
  16. Snyder A . May 2009 . Explaining and inducing savant skills: privileged access to lower level, less-processed information . live . Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences . The Economist . 364 . 1522 . 1399–405 . 10.1098/rstb.2008.0290 . 2677578 . 19528023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090419023351/http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13489714 . April 19, 2009 . April 16, 2009.
  17. Savant syndrome has a distinct psychological profile in autism. Molecular Autism. 2018-10-12. 2040-2392. 6186137. 30344992. 53. 9. 1. 10.1186/s13229-018-0237-1. en. James E. A.. Hughes. Jamie. Ward. Elin. Gruffydd. Simon. Baron-Cohen. Paula. Smith. Carrie. Allison. Julia. Simner . free .
  18. Is Talent in Autism Spectrum Disorders Associated with a Specific Cognitive and Behavioural Phenotype?. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 2012-12-01. 1573-3432. 2739–2753. 42. 12. 10.1007/s10803-012-1533-9. en. Emily. Bennett. Pamela. Heaton . 22527706 . subscription.
  19. Snyder A . Explaining and inducing savant skills: privileged access to lower level, less-processed information . Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences . 364 . 1522 . 1399–405 . May 2009 . 19528023 . 2677578 . 10.1098/rstb.2008.0290 .
  20. Web site: Savant Syndrome . 2012-10-06 . Hiles, Dave. 2001. De Montfort University . https://web.archive.org/web/20121025162925/http://www.psy.dmu.ac.uk/drhiles/Savant%20Syndrome.htm . 2012-10-25 . dead .
  21. Howlin P, Goode S, Hutton J, Rutter M . May 2009 . Savant skills in autism: psychometric approaches and parental reports . live . Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences . The Economist . 364 . 1522 . 1359–67 . 10.1098/rstb.2008.0328 . 2677586 . 19528018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090419023351/http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13489714 . April 19, 2009 . April 16, 2009.
  22. News: An artist is born after car crash. The Inquirer. Philadelphia. Monica. Yant-Kinney. vanc. 2012-08-20. 2012-11-24. 2013-01-31. https://archive.today/20130131045131/http://articles.philly.com/2012-08-20/news/33273378_1_brain-injury-owens-answers-car-crash/2. dead.
  23. News: 'A ski accident left me with advanced mental abilities': US woman tells her extraordinary story. Daily Telegraph. 17 April 2015. 5 April 2018. 25 September 2020. 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/. live.
  24. 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 . The epidemiology of autism spectrum disorders . Annual Review of Public Health . 28 . 235–58 . 2007 . 1 . 17367287 . 10.1146/annurev.publhealth.28.021406.144007 . 2007ARPH...28..235N . free.
  25. https://archive.org/details/b21952619/page/98/mode/2up lecture 3
  26. McGowan . Kat . March 13, 2013 . Exploring Temple Grandin's Brain . Discover Magazine . June 20, 2018 . April 3, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130403073144/http://discovermagazine.com/2013/april/2-exploring-temple-grandins-brain . dead .
  27. Book: Badcock. Christopher. The Imprinted Brain: How Genes Set the Balance Between Autism and Psychosis. 2009. Jessica Kingsley. London. 9781849050234. 29. 2020-10-28. 2021-08-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210818154758/https://books.google.com/books?id=PG0uZ5UnuFEC&q=Wiggins&pg=PA29. live.
  28. Book: Kaweski, Walter . Teaching Adolescents With Autism: Practical Strategies for the Inclusive Classroom . 11 May 2011 . Corwin Press . 5.

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