Instead, we should remain mindful of the concept of 'neurodiversity' and appreciate the differences between individuals. "Since not all people with autism have savant skills, we should be careful not to perpetuate the stereotype that all people with autism have some innate prodigious talent. "I try to remain respectful of the diversity of individuals who may be affected by the outcomes of this kind of research," he says. These behaviors have been found to be distinct even from people with autism without savant skills, leading some researchers to argue that savant syndrome might be considered a sub-type of autism.Īccording to Hughes, it's difficult to talk about his research around savant syndrome, as one needs to be very careful in classifying people as having "special abilities." For instance, increased obsessions could lead to the development of skills through practice - just logging hours that others might not be willing to put in, while the ability to systemize might make it easier to understand and generate links between pieces of information. Overall, evidence points to the possibility that autistic savants display a unique cognitive and behavioral style that might influence the development of savant skills.
An emerging finding is that autistic savants display a unique set of cognitive and behavioral characteristics that might influence the development of special skills and talents." There are several theories that try to address the reason why some people develop savant abilities while others do not. "Savants are not born with their skills - just like nobody is born with the ability to paint portraits or drive a car - so there has to be a learning mechanism that occurs. "Our understanding of how and why individuals come to possess savant abilities has progressed over the years," says Hughes. Each of these behaviors might influence the development of skills or talents in their own way.
There is, however, a unique cognitive and behavioral style that contributes to the development of special skills, and it just so happens that this cognitive style seems to be linked to autism in particular.Īccording to Hughes, savant syndrome has a distinct psychological profile in autism that leans toward specific behaviors such as heightened sensory sensitivity, obsessional behaviors, increased technical/spatial abilities, and systemizing. How these abilities are developed is something researchers still don't completely understand.
It's estimated that around one in 10 people with autism have some savant abilities, which often involves an enhanced ability to do something like memorize sports trivia or license plate numbers. Yet autism is the most common condition that overlaps with savant syndrome, although not all savants are autistic and not all people with autism have savant skills.
Savant syndrome can accompany developmental differences, a traumatic brain injury or, in rare cases, can emerge apropo of nothing.