Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry : eISSN 2233-9183 / pISSN 1225-729X

Table. 4.

Table. 4.

Overview of experimental study and survey

Number Study Participants Purpose Measure Results
1 Dubischar-Krivec et al. [48] (2009) Savant calendar calculators with autism, n=3, age 9-36 yr
Healthy calendar calculators, n=3
Non-savant subjects with autism, n=6
healthy calendar calculator layman, n=18
Identify the cognitive processes that distinguish calendar calculation in savant individuals from healthy calendar calculators. Calculated dates of the present (current month), calculated dates of the past and future 50 years • Savant calendar calculators with autism (ACC) showed shorter reaction times and fewer errors than healthy calendar calculators (HCC) and non-savant subjects with autism, and significantly fewer errors than healthy calendar calculator laymen when calculating dates of the present.
• ACC performed faster and more accurate than HCC regarding past dates. However, no differences between ACC and HCC were detected for future date calculation
• Distinct calendar calculation strategies in ACC and HCC, with HCC relying on calendar regularities for all types of dates and an involvement of (rote) memory in ACC.
2 Howlin et al. [6] (2009) n=137 (average age 24 yr) To investigate the nature and frequency of savant skills in a large sample of individuals with autism Diagnostic and cognitive assessments
Savant skills: parent report (n=23)
• Thirty-nine participants (28.5%) met criteria for either a savant skill or an exceptional cognitive skill.
• One-third of males showed some form of outstanding ability compared with 19 per cent of females.
• No individual with a non-verbal intelligence quotient (IQ) below 50 met criteria for a savant skill.
3 Vital et al. [13] (2009) 6426 8-year-olds with and without parent-reported special abilities To investigate the association between special abilities and autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-like traits A screening questionnaire for ASD-like traits
IQ, sex, and socioeconomic status (SES)
• The association between special abilities and ASD-like traits and expand it to traits in the general population.
• The type of nonsocial traits most strongly associated with special abilities suggests a link to a featural information processing style, or ‘weak central coherence.’
4 Pring et al. [17] (2010) ASD savant artist, n=9, age 23-43 yr
ASD adult, n= 9, age 22-42 yr
Mild/moderate learning difficulties (MLD), n=9, age 16-18 yr
Art students, n=9, age 17-20 yr
Psychology students, n=9, age 17-20 yr
Explore the nature of local and global processing in savant artists with ASD Block Design & embedded figures test (EFT) • There were no significant differences between the meaningful and abstract versions of the EFT, in any of the groups.
• The savant artists performed above the level of the ASD and MLD groups on the block-design test, but not the EFT.
• Although an enhanced local processing style is an important aspect of savant artistic talent, motor control also appears to be a necessary skill.
5 Soulières et al. [47] (2010) ASD savants, n=2, nonsavant ASD, n=6 Understanding the Superior estimation abilities through a case study Computerized and noncomputerized tasks • Certain autistic spectrum individuals may develop superior and highly specialized abilities in estimation.
• These findings in relation to the role of “veridical mapping” in the development of special ability.
6 Bölte et al. [46] (2011) High functioning ASD, males, n= 35
High functioning ASD females, n= 21
Unaffected sibling controls (23 males and 35 females)
• To identify gender differences and clinical correlations in the cognitive domain
• Functional comparison of visual attention to detail and executive function
Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), intelligence tests, Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL)/Young Adult Behavior Checklist (YABCL), Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R), visual attention to detail (ATTD) & selected executive functions (EF) • Females with ASD outperformed males on EF as assessed by the Trail Making Test B-A. Males with ASD showed superior performance for ATTD as measured by the Block Design Test (BD) clinically meaningful cognitive sex differences in ASD.
• Particularly an association between EF and stereotypic behaviours and interests.
• ATTD as a potential basis for specific cognitive strengths (e.g., scientific/savant skills) might be more pronounced in males with ASD.
7 Crane et al. [15] (2011) Savant group, n=9, age 23-43 Autism, n=5 Asperger syndrome, n= 3 Atypical autism, n=1
Control group Non savant ASD, n=9 Mild Learning Disabilities, n=8
To assess executive abilities (specifically, fluency, perseveration and monitoring) in savant artists with ASD, relative to non-talented individuals with ASD or MLD Three facets of executive ability (fluency, perseveration and monitoring) assessed. • The savant artists performed better than the ASD comparison group on the fluency and monitoring, but not perseveration, aspects of the design fluency task.
• No significant differences were observed between the savant, ASD and MLD groups on the card sort task.
• In the domain of their talent, savant artists have enhanced executive abilities, relative to their non-talented counterparts.
8 Kim et al. [8] (2011) Savant autism, n=60 Nonsavant autism, n= 81 Relationship between Savant Skills and Autistic Symptoms in Korean Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder The domain scores and total scores of the Korean version ADI-R, Korean versions of Asperger Syndrome Diagnostic Scale (K-ASDS), and Korean translated versions of Social Responsiveness Scale (K-SRS) • Memory (n=47) was the most prevalent savant skill in the savant ASD group (n=60).
• The savant ASD group had a statistically higher mean age and IQ score than did the nonsavant ASD group.
• The savant ASD group showed high IQ profile, a higher RRB and higher language and cognitive scores than did the nonsavant ASD group.
9 Bennett and Heaton [42] (2012) Study 1. Parents of 125 children, adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorders
Study 2. Three individuals with exceptional skills for music, art and mathematic
1. To develop and pilot a new screening questionnaire
2. Validating the screening instrument
Special Skills in Autism Questionnaire+case study • 42% of respondents had children with one or more skills that were outstanding given their child’s functional skills.
• Special skills are associated with superior working memory and highly focused attention that is not associated with increased obsessesionality.
• Although intellectual impairment and a local bias have been widely associated with special skills in the savant literature, neither the screening nor case studies provided strong evidence for such associations.
10 Pring et al. [40] (2012) Savant artists with ASD, n=9
Non-artistically talented individuals with ASD n=9
Mild/moderate learning difficulties (MLD), n=9
Talented art students, n=9
To explore savant artists with autism and their creativity 1) TTCT (Torrance Test of Creative Thinking) Task
2) Figural synthesis task (FST)
• The savants did produce more elaborative responses than the ASD and MLD groups, no differences were observed on the other indices of creativity.
• Elaboration is a key skill in savant artistic talent.
• On the non-drawing construction task, the savant group produced more original (but not more fluent) outputs.
11 Bouvet et al. [45] (2014) Savant autism (n=1, age 21 yr): several savant abilities: absolute pitch and synesthesia-like associations To examine the relationship of enhanced perception, veridical mapping, and savant ability Case study (developmental history, self-report, test) • The co-occurrence of abilities, which share the same structure, suggest the importance of veridical mapping in the atypical range and nature of abilities displayed by autistic people.
12 Dubischar-Krivec et al. [49] (2014) Savant calendar calculators with autism, n=3
Typically developing calendar calculators, n=3
Neural mechanisms of savant calendar calculating in autism
Neural mechanisms of savant calendar calculating in autism
126 calendar tasks with dates of the present, past, and future • ASD people perform better in accurate responses.
• In terms of speed, it was not.
• During calendar calculation, calendar calculators with ASD and typically developing calendar calculators both showed maxima at frontal and left superior temporal sites as well as bilateral insulae.
• This is in accordance with verbal fact retrieval and working memory as well as monitoring and coordination processes.
13 Finocchiaro et al. [44] (2015) A child with savant and ASD (age 7 yr) A case study of a child with ASD and savant abilities A protocol of academic skills: Measures of cognitive, academic, adaptive skills, Calculation skills • Performances in number elaboration showed an adequate access to semantic and verbal number information.
• In the written and mental calculation task and in fact retrieval, implicating calculation strategies and information retrieval, processes were automatized.
14 Treffert and Rebedew [41] (2015) Savnant autism, n=319 To identify the demographic characteristics of Savant Syndrome Subjects were chosen based upon existing mail and e-mail • 79% male, 21% female.
• 90% are congenital savants, 10% are acquired savants.
• Among the individuals with congenital savant syndrome, the most common underlying disability was ASD (75%); in the other 25%.
• Fifty-five percent possessed a single special skill, while 45% had multiple skills.
• Music was the most frequent principal skill followed by art, memory, mathematics, calendar calculating, language, visual-spatial/mechanical, athletic, computer, extrasensory perception, and other skill.
15 De Marco et al. [16] (2016) 24-year-old male (asperger syndrome) Observation of special ability Calendar calculation skills, priming effect, The “Easter Test”
Investigation of autobiographical memories
• Responded with 98.2 % accuracy to 492 day-date correspondences covering a period of 40 years.
• Such accurate performance on future-date trials relies on knowledge and use of calendrical regularities.
16 Bennett and Heaton [43] (2017) Savant ASD group, n=17 (age 8-13 yr)
Nonsavant autism group, n=19 (age 8-13 yr)
Typically developing, n=17, (age 8-13 yr)
To compare clinical and cognitive profiles of child savants and non-savants with ASD 1. Skill validation assessment
2. Clinical assessement: symptom severity (Social Communication Questionnaire, ADOS, short sensory profile), Obsessionality
3. Cognitive ability Assessments
• Striking differences between savant and non-savant groups emerged on measures of cognitive ability.
• Children with savant skills exhibited highly superior working memory and their scores on tests of analytic skills were also superior to those of non-savants.
17 Hughes et al. [12] (2018) Savant and ASD, n=44
Nonsavant ASD, n= 36
Typical control, n=31
Investigate a psychological profile in autism and savant syndrome Investigated the cognitive and behavioural profiles.
Investigate a novel savant skill— calendar calculation
• 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.
• A unique cognitive and behavioural profile in autistic adults with savant syndrome that is distinct from autistic adults without a savant skill.
18 Daniel and Menashe [11] (2020) Savant, n=712
Nonsavant, n=2032
Exploring the familial role of social responsiveness differences between savant and non-savant children with autism • Demographic features and primary ASD diagnosis measures
• Compare the SRS scores between the savant and non-savant groups.
• Savant children had significantly lower SRS scores (less deficiencies) compared to non-savant children (p<0.05).
• Intra-familial analyses revealed weak pairwise-correlations between SRS scores of parents and their children.
• The less severe autistic traits among savant children with ASD compared to other people with ASD is not likely to be a familial trait.
19 Park [1] (2021) 9 mothers of ASD and savant syndrome Explore the parenting experience of mothers who has young adult child with ASD and savant syndrome In depth interview • Parents have been confused with their child’s abilities.
• There are still many difficulties that those parents encounter, therefore, they expect more systematic support.
• Parents were hoped to their child to live as healthy members of the society.
20 Bal et al. [52] (2022) n=1470 Examining the relationship between parent-reported talents and strengths and performance on standardized cognitive tests Parent report ADI-R, Differential Ability Scales, 2nd edition • Almost half (46%) had at least one parentreported talent and an additional 23% without extraordinary talents had at least one personal strength.
• Children with these parent-reported skills had different patterns of performance on these standardized tests than children without skills in that area (i.e., visuospatial, drawing, computation, reading, and memory).
• These results emphasize the importance of considering strengths separately by area.
J Korean Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2023;34:76-92 https://doi.org/10.5765/jkacap.230003
© 2023 J Korean Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry