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External Websites
- Academia - Savant Syndrome
- Frontiers - Veridical mapping in savant abilities, absolute pitch, and synesthesia: an autism case study
- National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - The savant syndrome: an extraordinary condition. A synopsis: past, present, future
- Nature - Exploring the familial role of social responsiveness differences between savant and non-savant children with autism
- Verywell Health - What Is a Savant?
- SSM Health Treffert Center - Savant Syndrome
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Thank you for your feedback
Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.
External Websites
- Academia - Savant Syndrome
- Frontiers - Veridical mapping in savant abilities, absolute pitch, and synesthesia: an autism case study
- National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - The savant syndrome: an extraordinary condition. A synopsis: past, present, future
- Nature - Exploring the familial role of social responsiveness differences between savant and non-savant children with autism
- Verywell Health - What Is a Savant?
- SSM Health Treffert Center - Savant Syndrome
Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last Updated:•Article History
Category: Science & Tech
- Related Topics:
- human intelligence
- prodigy
- On the Web:
- Frontiers - Veridical mapping in savant abilities, absolute pitch, and synesthesia: an autism case study (Dec. 05, 2023)
savant syndrome, rare condition wherein a person of less than normal intelligence or severely limited emotional range has prodigious intellectual gifts in a specific area. Mathematical, musical, artistic, and mechanical abilities have been among the talents demonstrated by savants. Examples include performing rapid mental calculations of huge sums, playing lengthy musical compositions from memory after a single hearing, and repairing complex mechanisms without training. About 10 percent of autistic people exhibit savant syndrome and are known as autistic savants. Non-autistic intellectually disabled people may also be savants, though the incidence among them is much lower.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Brian Duignan.
