Idiot Savants / Autistic Savants

The first time it dawned on me just how mysterious the brain is, was when I was living in Bangkok, Thailand.  I frequently watched the Discovery Channel. One day I watched an episode on idiot-savants. It blew me away. Several remarkable people were covered, but the one I remember most was a young New York man who had a photographic memory to the extreme. His helper (A lady who helps idiot-savants) took him up in a helicopter over New York City. After about 15 minutes (I think) in the air, he returned home and drew an entire aerial view of the city with precise and accurate elevations of every skyscraper!! Whoa! But, this man has trouble surviving day to day.

What is your mind truly capable of? You will soon find out - if you choose to "stick around."

Here's another story I found - Daniel Tammet

July 10, 2006 - A Life that is Beginning to Add Up (Telegraph - UK)

February 12, 2005 - A genius explains (Guardian-UK) / Discovery Science Brainman

Brain Man ...on 60 Minutes; Exclusive Video Only on Yahoo! News

Aug.5, 2008 - Savants (60 Minutes)

More Links

Autism.org -savant  / Idiot_savant (Wiki) / Power Latent in Man - Idiot Savant