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Savant syndrome has a distinct psychological profile in autism.

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cam.issuedOnline2018-10-12
dc.contributor.authorHughes, James EA
dc.contributor.authorWard, Jamie
dc.contributor.authorGruffydd, Elin
dc.contributor.authorBaron-Cohen, Simon
dc.contributor.authorSmith, Paula
dc.contributor.authorAllison, Carrie
dc.contributor.authorSimner, Julia
dc.contributor.orcidHughes, James EA [0000-0002-3022-3104]
dc.date.accessioned2018-12-13T00:30:47Z
dc.date.available2018-12-13T00:30:47Z
dc.date.issued2018
dc.description.abstractBACKGROUND: Savant syndrome is a condition where prodigious talent can co-occur with developmental conditions such as autism spectrum conditions (autism). It is not yet clear why some autistic people develop savant skills while others do not. METHODS: We tested three groups of adults: autistic individuals who have savant skills, autistic individuals without savant skills, and typical controls without autism or savant syndrome. In experiment 1, we investigated the cognitive and behavioural profiles of these three groups by asking participants to complete a battery of self-report measures of sensory sensitivity, obsessional behaviours, cognitive styles, and broader autism-related traits including social communication and systemising. In experiment 2, we investigated how our three groups learned a novel savant skill-calendar calculation. RESULTS: Heightened sensory sensitivity, obsessional behaviours, technical/spatial abilities, and systemising were all key aspects in defining the savant profile distinct from autism alone, along with a different approach to task learning. CONCLUSIONS: These results reveal a unique cognitive and behavioural profile in autistic adults with savant syndrome that is distinct from autistic adults without a savant skill.
dc.format.mediumElectronic-eCollection
dc.identifier.doi10.17863/CAM.34086
dc.identifier.eissn2040-2392
dc.identifier.issn2040-2392
dc.identifier.urihttps://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/286779
dc.languageeng
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC
dc.publisher.urlhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13229-018-0237-1
dc.rightsAttribution 4.0 International
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subjectAutism spectrum conditions
dc.subjectCognition
dc.subjectPerception
dc.subjectSavant syndrome
dc.subjectSensory processing
dc.subjectSkill learning
dc.subjectTalent
dc.subjectAdult
dc.subjectAptitude
dc.subjectAutism Spectrum Disorder
dc.subjectCognition
dc.subjectCommunication
dc.subjectFemale
dc.subjectHumans
dc.subjectMale
dc.subjectMiddle Aged
dc.subjectObsessive Behavior
dc.subjectSocial Behavior
dc.subjectSpatial Navigation
dc.subjectSurveys and Questionnaires
dc.subjectYoung Adult
dc.titleSavant syndrome has a distinct psychological profile in autism.
dc.typeArticle
dcterms.dateAccepted2018-09-25
prism.publicationDate2018
prism.publicationNameMol Autism
prism.startingPage53
prism.volume9
pubs.funder-project-idNational Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (via Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) (unknown)
pubs.funder-project-idAutism Research Trust (unknown)
pubs.funder-project-idTempleton World Charity Foundation (TWCF) (TWCF0138/AB89)
pubs.funder-project-idMedical Research Council (G0600977)
rioxxterms.licenseref.startdate2018-01
rioxxterms.licenseref.urihttp://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved
rioxxterms.typeJournal Article/Review
rioxxterms.versionVoR
rioxxterms.versionofrecord10.1186/s13229-018-0237-1

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