Skip to main content

Savant Syndrome

Savant syndrome is a rare condition in which someone with significant mental disabilities demonstrates certain abilities far in excess of average. The skills that savants excel at are generally related to memory. This may include rapid calculation, artistic ability, map making, or musical ability. 


As many as 1 in 10 persons with autistic disorder have remarkable abilities to varying extents. These savant abilities are usually linked to having an exceptional memory. That being said, not all persons with mental disabilities are savants, and not all savants suffer from mental disabilities. 

A famous savant is Kim Peek who memorised over 12,000 books including the Bible over his lifetime. Kim could read two pages at once; his left eye read the left page while his right eye read the right page. Consequently, he only took 8 seconds to read and memorise two pages of a book. 

Another famous savant is artist Stephen Wiltshire. At a young age, Stephen was unable to communicate verbally. Instead, he communicated through his drawings. Stephen has an amazing photographic memory which allows him to use his memory to draw landscapes down to the exact detail. In 2014, Stephen drew the Singapore skyline after a 1 hour helicopter ride around the island in Paragon shopping center, leaving Singaporeans in awe. 


While there is no definitive cause of Savant Syndrome, there have been some hypotheses put forward by scientists. One theory is that it is caused by genetics, while another theory suggests that it is due to damage in the left hemisphere of the brain, which causes overcompensation in the right hemisphere and gives rise to these abilities. 


Sources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2677584/

https://www.aruma.com.au/about-us/blog/5-amazing-people-with-savant-syndrome-the-truth-behind-rain-man/

http://www.agnesian.com/page/savant-syndrome-faqs

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kidney Stones

Renal calculi, or kidney stones is the formation of crystals in the kidneys causing excretory issues. These stones mainly form in the renal pelvis or the ureter in the kidney. It is accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and a burning sensation when urinating  Urine consists of salts and various compounds such as Calcium, Potassium, Sodium, Oxalate, Phosphate and Uric acid. Calcium oxalate is the most common stone formed in the kidneys, it accounts for 80% of kidney stones The crystals can scratch the walls of the urinary tract, sending nerve impulses to the brain causing excruciating abdominal pain. The scratches also cause blood vessels embedded behind the walls to burst, causing blood to enter the urinary system. This causes the patient to urinate blood. IF the stone is big enough to cause a blockage in the urinary tract, this can create a backflow of urine and infect the kidneys itselves. However, most kidney stones do not grow large enough to cause a blockage. This w...
Post a Comment
Read more

Horner’s Syndrome

Horner’s syndrome is a condition where the sympathetic nerves on the face are damaged. 3 classic signs of Horner’s syndrome include miosis (constriction of the pupil), ptosis (drooping of the upper eyelid) and anhidrosis (absence of sweating of the face). It is a result of other medical problems such as stroke, tumor or spinal cord injury. Hence, treatment for the underlying issue may restore nerve function. The nerve pathway affected in Horner’s syndrome is divided into three groups of neurons called the first, second and third order neurons. These neurons lead from the hypothalamus of the brain through the spinal cord and finally along the facial skin and muscles of the iris and eyelids  Sources: https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/6670/ horners-syndrome
Post a Comment
Read more

Organ Transplants

  Organ transplantation is a medical procedure in which an organ is removed from one body and planted in the body of a recipient. It is often the only treatment for end stage organ failure, such as liver and heart failure.  Researchers have historically experimented with organ transplantation on animals and humans since the 18th century. However, the first major breakthrough was made in 1954, when the first successful kidney transplant was performed. Since then, medical breakthroughs such as tissue typing and immunosuppressant drugs have only increased the success rate of this procedure.  In Singapore, the Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA) covers all aged 21 and above, unless one has opted out. HOTA allows for the kidneys, heart, liver and corneas to be removed for transplantation in the event of death. Sources: https://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/learn/about-transplantation/history/ https://www.moh.gov.sg/policies-and-legislation/human-organ-transplant-act https://www.who.i...
Post a Comment
Read more