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Understanding Savants

Savant Syndrome affects many people in life. Savant syndrome can occur after birth and even later in life. Savant syndrome affects males and females but occurs greatly in males. In savant syndrome those who posses it have a disability, but holds a certain outstanding talent.
There have been many different definitions given by many scientists on savant syndrome. Savant syndrome was first founded by J. London Down in 1987. He also coined the name and associated the disorder with the ability to have amazing memory. T.L. Brinks published a dramatic study in 1980. In this study he states that “savant syndrome is due to left hemisphere damage”. (Brinks pg3). This helps prove the left brain hemisphere theory to be true. In his study he described the great abilities of a nine year old boy who had been disabled by a bullet damaged to his left hemisphere. The boy was able to repair bikes and design contraptions. Other researchers, such as Geswhind and Galaburda stated that “the left hemisphere of the brain normally completes its development later than the right and is therefore subject to prenatal influences.”(Geswhind and Galaburda 2) They proved that the right brain often compensates for the loss, giving those suffering with savant syndrome their outstanding abilities.
There are many people who stand out with savant syndrome. Most noted is Kim Peek “a walking encyclopedia” (Treffer and Christensen pg 3). Kim peek has a unique memory; he has memorized more than 7,600 books. He even knowes which highway goes to each American city. Peeks outstanding ability “was a great inspiration for the character Raymond Babbit, in the movie Rain Man in 1988”. (treffet and Christensen pg2). Kim Peek was such in inspiration that it inspire scientist at Nassau to do a model of his brain to help find the cause of this syndrome. Another outstand person living with Savant syndrome is Richard Wawro . He is said to have “incredible...