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Savant Syndrome is one of the most fascinating cognitive phenomena in psychology. Savant Syndrome is “a condition in which a person otherwise limited in mental ability has an exceptional specific skill, such as in computation or drawing” (Myers 433). There are many types of disorders an individual may have where savant skills will be found, but the most common is the autistic savant. Autistic savant refers to individuals with Autism who have extraordinary skills. In the past, people with these skills were viewed as abnormal. Although they may lack intelligence in one aspect, they are extremely brilliant in certain other aspects.
The types of skills people with Savant Syndrome exemplify are generally confined to brilliant computation, drawing or music memory. This limited, but spectacular, array of special skills is fascinating considering the many skills humans have. Calendar calculating as it is called is a rarity in the general population, but seems to be an ability almost all savants share. Matt Savage, a thirteen year old savant, is a jazz pianist and has an incredible musical ability way beyond his age. Savants are truly special people with fascinating abilities.
Some experts believe that intelligence is not a single quality, such as Howard Gardner and L.L. Thurstone. They believe that mental ability is separated into multiple intelligences and these intelligences may be unrelated to one another. If this is true, it could explain how mental retardation or autism and savant skills can coexist in one person.
Savant Syndrome is a rare but unmistakable disorder. The tasks and skills associated with savants are simply amazing. Savant Syndrome has led to differing viewpoints of intelligence. The syndrome leans towards multiple intelligences since savants are brilliant in one area but not in others. It will continue to boggle the minds of psychologists and astonish even the brightest of people.