Savant Research Articles

“Autistic savant”: A rare case report

“Autistic savant”: A rare case report

FUNCTIONAL ASPECTS OF MEMORY AND FORGETTING

On the basis of the synaptic connections dynamics between the neurons the processes of occurrence of memory, forgetting and appearances of the new information in a human brain are considered. It is marked, that the huge quantity of the synaptic connections inevitably results to them instability. Forgetting information in norm it is defined by the break of synaptic connections, and memory information it is connected to restoration of these connections. In norm there is a speed balance of these processes. However, if the torn synapse is reconnected to the spine of another neuron, the new information may appear in a brain. As consequence the forgetting the previous information is possible. It is essence of creative process. A savant syndrome and autism are connected to excessive durability of the synaptic connections that results in absence of creative abilities. The impossibility of described dynamics of a brain work technical modelling, i.e. creation of a full-fledged artificial intellect is marked. Some genetic-molecular aspects of the synaptic connections restoration are considered.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER TRAITS AND EXCEPTIONAL ABILITIES: INSIGHTS INTO THE SAVANT SYNDROME

Individuals with ASD feature extensively in discussions on savant syndrome and seem to be the most prevalent group among the savant population (Bennett & Heaton, 2017; Clark, 2001; Skuse, 2011). It is important to understand the relationship between ASD and the savant syndrome as the two are closely connected (Boso et al., 2010; Clark, 2001). A ‘special ability’ according to Soulieres et al, (2010), consists of a peak in cognitive abilities that contrast differently from the measured overall intelligence of that person, usually with a diagnosis of ASD

Visual arts talent among adolescents with intellectual disability: The global domain approach

Talent in the population with intellectual disability (ID) has to date been investigated in the context of the phenomenon of the idiot savant (Miller, 2005). This pioneering study examined talent in a population with ID through the prism of giftedness and talent theories in the typical population. The goals were to examine: (a) whether the talent of adolescents with ID is expressed only in their drawing ability (specific domain) or whether they would demonstrate high cognitive abilities compared to adolescents with ID without this talent (global domain); (b) the contribution of the participants’ endogenous background characteristics (fluid intelligence, cognitive flexibility and creative thinking) as well as the contribution of an exogenous factor (participation in an art class) to their art measures. An intelligence and cognitive tests battery was administered among adolescents with ID with drawing talent (N = 29) and without such talent (N = 26). Morphological Structural Conceptual Analysis (Elkosho, 2007) was used to assess the drawing ability of students with/without drawing talent as well as their level of commitment to visual arts. The ANOVAs indicated that adolescents with ID with artistic talent exhibited relatively higher drawing skills as well as fluid intelligence, cognitive flexibility and creative thinking. Regression analyses indicated that participation in an art class contributed to the explained variance of the art measures. The findings support the global domain approach and the nurture thesis in visual arts (drawing) in the population with ID. Renzulli's (2020) three-ring model of giftedness might be applicable for the population with ID.

서번트 증후군을 지닌 자폐스펙트럼장애인에 대한 소아청소년정신의학 전문가의 경험과 인식

The purpose of this study was to explore pediatric psychiatrists’ experiences of working with individuals with ASD and savant syndrome. It identifies ways to support such individuals based on these experiences. For this purpose, in-depth interviews were conducted with seven pediatric psychiatrists with more than ten years of clinical experience in treating students with ASD. The interviews were analyzed using continuous comparative analysis. Seven core themes, 24 subthemes, and 54 thematic units were derived. The key themes that emerged were: 1) referrals; 2) ASD and savant syndrome encountered in the clinic being a spectrum; 3) savant syndrome being a concept that requires the understanding of all; 4) the notion of being savant as indicating that one possess abilities as a strength and a blessing; 5) talent that grows through immersion, or special challenges caused by immersion; 6) the time before special talents become special abilities; and 7) how to support students with ASD or savant syndrome. Based on the results, we discuss possible ways to cooperate with professionals of various fields to support students with ASD and savant syndrome, and ways to support students with savant syndrome in the future.

A mixed method comparison of stigma toward autism and schizophrenia and effects of person-first versus identity-first language.

While stigma toward autistic individuals has been well documented, less is known about how autism is perceived relative to other stigmatized disabilities. As a highly stigmatized condition with similar social cognitive features to autism, schizophrenia may offer a useful comparison for stigma. Previous studies have found that autistic people may be perceived more favorably than those with schizophrenia, but little is known about the underlying volitional thoughts that contribute to differences in how these conditions are perceived. The present study utilizes a mixed-methods approach, allowing for a detailed understanding of how young adults perceive different diagnostic labels. 533 college undergraduates completed questionnaires reflecting their perceptions of one of eight diagnostic labels: four related to autism (autism, autistic, autism spectrum disorder, or Asperger's), two related to schizophrenia (schizophrenia or schizophrenic), and two related to an unspecified clinical condition (clinical diagnosis or clinical disorder). Participants also completed an open-ended question regarding their thoughts about, and exposure to, these labels. Responses were compared across broader diagnostic categories (autism, schizophrenia, general clinical condition), with thematic analysis used to assess the broader themes occurring within the open-ended text. While perceptions did not differ significantly for person-first and identity-first language within labels, several differences were apparent across labels. Specifically, quantitative results indicated greater prejudice towards autism and schizophrenia than the generic clinical condition, with schizophrenia associated with more perceived fear and danger, as well as an increased preference for social distance, compared to autism. Patterns in initial codes differed across diagnostic labels, with greater variation in responses about autism than responses about schizophrenia or the general clinical condition. While participants described a range of attitudes toward autism (patronizing, exclusionary, and accepting) and schizophrenia (fear, prejudice, and empathy), they refrained from describing their attitudes toward the general clinical label, highlighting the centrality of a cohesive group identity for the development of stigma. Finally, participants reported a number of misconceptions about autism and schizophrenia, with many believing features such as savant syndrome to be core characteristics of the conditions. These findings offer a more detailed account of how non-autistic individuals view autism and may therefore aid in the development of targeted programs to improve attitudes toward autism.

서번트 증후군을 지닌 자폐성장애 학생에 대한 교육전문가의 경험

The purpose of this study was to examine the educational experiences and perceptions of ASD and Savant Syndrome by special education experts. For the purpose of this study, in-depth interviews were conducted with nine educational experts who had more than 20 years of experience working with autistic disorders. The participants worked at various types of educational institutions such as special education schools, special classroom and child development centers, and were able to present various and rich experiences. The interviews were conducted through in-depth interviews and focus group interviews, the contents of these interviews were then analyzed according to the continuous comparative analysis method. As a result of analyzing the data a collection of 5 core themes and 16 subthemes were derived. The five core themes are as follows: 1) Savant syndrome, which I didn’t know well, now that I think about it, it was Savant syndrome maybe; 2) Savant syndrome is as diverse as the spectrum; 3) the difficulties related to autistic disorder preceded amazing abilities; 4) parents’ expectations toward their children’s special abilities are very diverse; and 5) Educational support measures that can help students’ special talents become meaningful abilities for students with ASD and Savant syndrome. Based on the research results, the similarities and differences between teachers’ and parents’ experiences of students with autism and Savant syndrome were discussed, in addition, future educational supports were suggested.

An outline of savant syndrome.

This article is a review of research on savant syndrome from years 2000-2022 - available in PubMed, ResearchGate and Google Scholar databases. Savant syndrome occurs with a frequency of 1.4 per 1,000 people with intellectual disabilities and in 10% of people with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders. Autism is the disorder that most often co-occurs with savant syndrome - in about 50% of all people with a savant syndrome diagnosis. Researchers distinguish between: congenital savant syndrome - which affects about 90% of people with the syndrome, and acquired savant syndrome - which occurs in the course of frontotemporal dementia or in people who have experienced trauma to the central nervous system. There are many cognitive theories that explain savant abilities. The anatomical basis of this entity has not been discovered using neuroimaging techniques. To date, no unified theory has been created that reliably explains the etiology and pathomechanism of savant syndrome. Previous neuroimaging studies of people with symptoms of savant syndrome have been conducted on too few subjects. There are indications that magnetic brain stimulation may contribute to a better understanding of the neurophysiological basis of this syndrome.

Audio describing emotions from a semiotic perspective: Mucize Doktor

This article aims to study the audio description of emotions from a semiotic standpoint. Selected scenes from the first episode of Mucize Doktor will be analyzed. This process involves intralingual and intersemiotic translation. Audio Description includes the description of the visual aspects of any audiovisual media for the accession of the blind and partially sighted receivers. To make films and TV series accessible an additional audible narrative is weaved between dialogues to provide information necessary for understanding what has been conveyed through these forms of art. Films or TV series consist of visual signified which refers to moving and still images and written texts and acoustic signified such as dialogues, sounds and music. Audio described versions of these audiovisual products contain only the acoustic content of the original narrative and the voice of the dubbing actor who speaks the images described through intersemiotic operation. In other words, when describing filmic images or what Peirce calls icons, a problematic conversion takes place which turns images into words or icons into symbols and thus the decision making about whether to remain neutral or interpret what is seen becomes blurred. Audio describer/translator’s choice of deductive or inductive approach determines for instance the way emotions are conveyed to the audience, i.e. is it possible to make an inference or is the character’s feeling already known? (Arma, 2011). Mucize Doktor (2019-2021) is a Turkish adaptation of the Korean series The Good Doctor and it tells the drama of a young and talented doctor Ali Vefa suffering from autistic savant syndrome. This study, focusing on his behaviors and other people’s responses, discusses the audio description of emotions in an attempt to guide the blind viewers through the narrative.

Etiopathogenic Theories in Savant Syndrome: Scoping Review

Etiopathogenic Theories in Savant Syndrome: Scoping Review

Autism Spectrum Disorder and Savant Syndrome: A Systematic Literature Review.

This study aimed to analyze research trends in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and savant syndrome and their cognitive characteristics through a systematic literature review. The objectives of this study were to establish an overview of research trends in ASD and savant syndrome, analyze the overall characteristics of individuals with ASD and savant syndrome, and examine their cognitive characteristics. For the systematic literature review, three criteria were used to select review articles: 1) literature from peer-reviewed journals, published in the past 15 years, from 2008 to 2022; 2) subjects with ASD and savant syndrome; 3) study objectives focused on the basic phenomenon and cognitive characteristics of ASD and savant syndrome. Finally, based on the selection criteria, a total of 40 articles were included. Five themes and nine subthemes were derived from the analysis of 40 studies. The five main themes were as follows: 1) What is savant syndrome? 2) Demographic characteristics of savant syndrome; 3) Spectra of savant syndrome; 4) Savant syndrome and ASD; and 5) Cognitive characteristics of ASD with savant syndrome. The subthemes of the cognitive characteristics were weak central coherence, detail-focused cognitive processing, enhanced perceptual functioning, and hyper-systemizing. Several studies have been conducted to understand ASD and savant syndrome; however, no single theory can specify the cognitive characteristics of people with ASD and savant syndrome. Therefore, further systematic and multi-layered research on ASD and savant syndrome are required for more comprehensive results.

Do Savant Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorders Share Sex Differences? A Comprehensive Review.

Savant syndrome was described before autism. However, they soon became closely associated, as many of their symptoms (intellectual disability, repetitive behaviors, alterations in social communication, and islets of abilities) overlap. Only a few women with autism have been diagnosed with savant syndrome. The theories or hypotheses that attempt to explain savant syndrome, which are common in autism, present differential treatment according to sex. We postulate that savant syndrome associated with autism as well as autism in general is underdiagnosed in women.

How Well Do We Understand Autistic Savant Artists: A Review of Various Hypotheses and Research Findings to Date.

The authors investigated the artistic characteristics of autistic savant artists, hypotheses on the proximate and ultimate causes of their emergence, recent psychological and other studies about them, and psychological and neuroaesthetic studies about non-savant autistic individuals. The artistic features of autistic savant artists were significantly similar to those of outsider artists. Furthermore, the authors investigated the explanatory power of the paradoxical functional facilitation theory, the superior visual perception hypothesis, the "Hmmmmm" hypothesis, and the Neanderthal theory of autism regarding the emergence of autistic savant artists. In addition, we investigated whether an increase in savant characteristics was related to a decrease in the ability for social communication. The authors suggested that in studies on the aesthetic experience of non-savant autistic individuals, their aesthetic experience ability is never lower than that of neurotypical individuals and that some non-savant autistic individuals may potentially have artistic talent. Finally, the authors reviewed the effectiveness of the "autism savant spectrum syndromic disorder" proposed by some researchers. More scientific and systematic studies on autistic savant artists from a multidisciplinary perspective are warranted.

The Savant Syndrome: a Gift or a Disability? A Deeper Look into Metabolic Correlates of Hidden Cognitive Capacity.

Savant syndrome is a rare and unusual condition that occurs in the presence of severe developmental disabilities, disorders, and injuries. The syndrome can be congenital from birth to childhood or acquired as a result of a brain injury or damage to the central nervous system. There are several findings that indicate that savant syndrome usually occurs with significant brain metabolism alterations resulting in critical brain network changes. These types of changes in the brain are usually explained by the "tyranny of the left hemisphere" theory, which indicates the inhibition of the left hemisphere to allow the right hemisphere to develop savant abilities. Another way to temporarily simulate these types of changes in the brain can be through different neuromodulation techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation. Such neuromodulation techniques might help us discover the "hidden talent" potential through modulating the brain network metabolism. We herein discussed the types of savant syndrome along with its relation to specific neurometabolic network alterations. Furthermore, we provide a perspective on how newly developed neuromodulation and cognitive rehabilitation techniques can help simulate savant syndrome in healthy individuals through modulating the brain network activity.

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT AND INFLUENCE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF TALENTS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER. THREE MODERN CASE STUDIES

Individuals with ASD who display savant skills are a paradox. How can individuals with ASD, who appear to be intellectually challenged in their general independence skills, display savant skills that are far more developed than those of individuals with higher intelligence? What is it about ASD that predisposes individuals with ASD to savant skills? This paper examines the lives of three famous individuals who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and possess a diverse set of well-documented savant abilities. These individuals are Kim Peek, Leslie Lemke, and Matt Savage. Apart from Matt Savage, the other two individuals who display savant skills have low cognitive abilities and are unable to perform simple daily skills. Kim Peek, for example, was unable to perform general self-care tasks, such as combing his hair or dressing.

EXCEPTIONAL ABILITIES AND INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM. A HISTORICAL ACCOUNT

This paper examines the historical account of individuals with autism and their exceptional abilities (savant skills). It has been mentioned in some research journals regarding the exceptional abilities of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These occurrences transpire when individuals with intellectual disabilities, including ASD), may exhibit certain capacities of talent or genius that may differ from the adaptive living skills. One in ten persons with ASD has savant abilities in varying degrees. Academics and scholars used to believe that exceptional abilities or savant skills were irrelevant or insignificant. Nevertheless, savant syndrome has gained more interest in recent years. It is an area for further exploration in terms of research. Academics and scholars are currently trying to comprehend and appreciate the intricacies of the human mind. The savant syndrome is about describing individuals with intellectual difficulties (including ASD) who may also experience and possess astonishing aptitudes in arithmetic, reading, calendar calculations, music or art KEYWORDS: exceptional abilities, autism, savant syndrome

Saint Hershele

History pursues the truth through facts; fiction juices those facts until it is possible to extract their truthfulness. The story of Henry Eisenberg Glantz (1959–2020), alias El Santo Judío, a Mexican Jew whose life is the stuff of myth on the US-Mexican border, is surrounded in controversy. An idiot savant, “Hershele” was the child of an Auschwitz survivor and the grandchild of an important Yiddish poet. Obsessed with urban planning, he was particularly interested in the role traffic lights might play in easing vehicular fluency. He coined the now-ubiquitous term “vialidad,” a metaphor for metropolitan dynamism. After entering and abruptly exiting Mexico City’s political establishment, Hershele moved to Tijuana, where he became a successful radio host. In time, he metamorphosed into an associate of the Sinaloa Cartel with influence to commit crimes whose ultimate goal was, in his words, “to bring justice to earth.” As this false profile suggests, at the core of Hershele’s quest was the redemption of the “caged” children of Central American immigrants imprisoned in warehouses by the Trump Administration—“‘los pequeños que los nazis siguen acribillando,’ the little people the Nazis are still massacring.” There is a petition to beatify Hershele being considered by the Vatican.

Expressive and Receptive Language Disorder of Shaun Murphy in The Good Doctor Series

The autistic savant is a rare condition that occurs in people with autism that affects the ability in expressing and receiving language information appropriately. This study aimed to describe the expressive and receptive language disorder of Shaun Murphy as the autistic savant main character in The Good Doctor movie. It used descriptive qualitative method to get a deep understanding of the language disorder as portrayed in the movie. The data were taken from Shaun Murphy’s utterances transcribed from The Good Doctor movie. The analysis employed the theory of Carroll to describe how autistic savant person communicates with others. The findings from this study indicated that of the twelve utterances produced by Shaun Murphy, only four from six types of language disorders were found. They included stuttering, phonological disorder, difficulty in understanding the concept, and difficulty in following directions. Shaun Murphy dominantly produced stuttering. He often spoke with stammering, hanging, and repetition of sentences. In this case, the language disorders of the main character appeared when he was panic, happy, anxious, and unconfident; which could influence his way of communication.

Main Man, Rain Man

The titular character of the movie Rain Man is an autistic savant, and the movie centers on his relationship with his non-autistic but selfish brother. Particularly memorable scenes involve the brothers' travels; they initially lacked empathy and understanding toward each other, but they learn and expand their relationship as they spend time together. In this manuscript, I provide examples of truly amazing visual and mathematic abilities among some high-functioning autistic savants, and I introduce several hypotheses regarding the mechanisms that may underlie autism spectrum disorder, from a neuroscience perspective. The significance of these hypotheses and the current research directions are also discussed.

Aprendizaje para la optimización con Savant Virtual

Optimization problems arising in multiple fields of study demand efficient algorithms that can exploit modern parallel computing platforms. The remarkable development of machine learning offers an opportunity to incorporate learning into optimization algorithms to efficiently solve large and complex problems. This article explores Virtual Savant, a paradigm that combines machine learning and parallel computing to solve optimization problems. Virtual Savant is inspired in the Savant Syndrome, a mental condition where patients excel at a specific ability far above the average. In analogy to the Savant Syndrome, Virtual Savant extracts patterns from previously-solved instances to learn how to solve a given problem in a massively-parallel fashion. In this article, Virtual Savant is applied to three optimization problems related to software engineering, task scheduling, and public transportation. The efficacy of Virtual Savant is evaluated in different computing platforms and the experimental results are compared against exact and approximate solutions for both synthetic and realistic instances of the studied problems. Results show that Virtual Savant can find accurate solutions, effectively scale in the problem dimension, and take advantage of the availability of multiple computing resources.