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VOL. 1, ISSUE 1 (2025)
Neural correlates of prodigious talents: A neuroimaging review of savant syndrome
Authors
Eunice Meng Yin Tan
Abstract
Savant syndrome is a rare
and intriguing condition wherein individuals with neurodevelopmental
disorders—most commonly autism spectrum disorder (ASD)—exhibit extraordinary
abilities in specific domains such as music, art, mathematics, or calendar
calculation. Among savants, a subset known as prodigious savants display
talents that would be considered exceptional even by neurotypical standards.
This review synthesizes recent findings from neuroimaging studies to explore
the neural underpinnings of such prodigious abilities. Drawing on data from
functional MRI (fMRI), PET scans, EEG, and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), the
review identifies atypical patterns of brain activity and connectivity that
appear consistently among savants. Common findings include left hemisphere
dysfunction paired with compensatory right hemisphere activation, enhanced
connectivity in posterior perceptual regions, and decreased activity in
executive or integrative areas such as the prefrontal cortex. These patterns
support cognitive theories such as weak central coherence and enhanced
perceptual functioning, which suggest that a focus on detail-level processing
underlies many savant abilities. The review also highlights the role of
neuroplasticity, especially following early brain injury, in the emergence of
savant skills. While the precise mechanisms remain debated, current evidence
suggests that savant syndrome may reflect a unique reorganization of neural
pathways, resulting in localized overdevelopment of certain cognitive
faculties. This review underscores the importance of neuroimaging in deepening
our understanding of atypical intelligence and offers insights into how
specialized talents can emerge from neurologically diverse conditions.
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Pages:6-11
How to cite this article:
Eunice Meng Yin Tan "Neural correlates of prodigious talents: A neuroimaging review of savant syndrome". International Journal of Applied Education
, Vol 1, Issue 1, 2025, Pages 6-11
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