Savant syndrome
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Savant syndrome is a condition in which a person with a mental disability, such as an autism spectrum disorder, demonstrates profound and prodigious capacities or abilities far in excess of what would be considered normal.
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History
The term idiot savant (French for "learned idiot" or "knowledgeable idiot") was first used to describe the condition in 1887 by John Langdon Down, who is known for his description of Down syndrome. 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 diagnosis for this disorder. Like idiot savant, the term autistic savant also became looked at as a misnomer because only one-half of those who were diagnosed at the time 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.
Society and culture
Notable cases
- Alonzo Clemons, acquired savant sculptor
- Anthony Cicoria, acquired savant pianist and medical doctor
- Daniel Tammet, author and polyglot
- Derek Amato, composer and pianist
- Derek Paravicini, blind musical prodigy and pianist
- Kim Peek, "megasavant"
- Leslie Lemke, musician
- Matt Savage, musician
- Orlando Serrell, acquired savant
- Stephen Wiltshire, architectural artist
- Temple Grandin, professor of animal science
- Tom Wiggins, blind American pianist and composer
- Tommy McHugh, artist and poet
Fictional cases
- 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
- Shaun Murphy, autistic savant in the 2017 U.S. medical drama The Good Doctor
- Kazan , autistic savant in the 1997 film Cube
See also
- Child prodigy
- Creativity and mental illness
- Mental calculator
- Hyperthymesia
- Ideasthesia
- Twice exceptional
