I was enlightened and pleased to learn about
talented individuals called savants. These remarkable people are skilled in a
unique area of their intelligence. This information came from our text pg. 216.
The example was of Max, a young boy who upon hearing a song could play it back
without ever having had any musical type of training (Shutter-Dyson, 1982). The
photo showed a young boy playing a piano. Savants are persons with limited
mental skills, who are extremely talented in one domain (Miller, 1999). It is
such a beautiful opportunity for persons with cognitive delays to be so brilliant
at one particular task. These special people also appear to highly enjoy their
profound ability!
Interested in learning a bit more, I found this site
on savants.
In the article Dr. Allan Snyder, Center for the Mind
conducted a test using low frequency magnetic pulses. He affected the left
fronto temperal lobe and in doing so was able to create a savant like mental
ability. Notice how they termed it ability, as opposed to a disability. That is
just my own personal excitement due to my special experience with my Down
syndrome daughter ; ). At any rate I thought that to be quite fascinating.
Another point that grabbed my attention was young man by the name of Daniel
Tammet. He is a high function autistic savant. Apparently he can perform very
talented mental achievements, but has no significant cognitive development
disability.
I would be very
interested in researching this further. Maybe this is what my research paper
will be about.Thanks for reading my blog,
Tami
Very interesting article about the Real Rain Man. All I kept thinking was keep him away from the show jeopardy. He would be unstoppable. I thought it was crazy that he could read to pages at once. I would like this ability when it is time to start nursing school. I also thought the cat guy was a trip. I like that he showed up his painting instructor. I would like to read your research paper as I find this article very interesting. Any ways thanks for posting that link. Good luck this quarter.
ReplyDeleteHi Tami!
ReplyDeleteI too found the last savant on the webpage you found to be most interesting! He seemed to be so normal yet with the ability to remember and speak many languages! I thought the nickname "Brainman" truly applied in his case. He learned Icelandic in a week for crying out loud!!
Based on what I read from the website you provided, Daniel is a master at three or more of the nine intelligences in Garner's theory of multiple intelligences: Linguistic, Logical-mathematical and musical. He is a master at these intelligences, which is quite an accomplishment in themselves. Most people are lucky if they master one.