The Savant Syndrome is a very rare condition that has been extensively debated in fiction and non-fiction. Sara Bui and I wrote a chapter for the new Palgrave Encyclopedia of Disability on this very topic.
Savant Syndrome is a rare condition in which individuals display exceptional skills in one or more areas of functioning. Historically, the presence of these skills is reputed to be associ- ated with some disability, the most frequent (50%) of which is autism spectrum disorder. The prevalence in the general population is estimated at about 1%, with the majority of studies suggesting that nine out of ten cases are congenital and eight out of ten cases are males.
The exceptional skills that are distinctive of this syndrome typically range from music, art, calendar calculating, mathematics, or mechanical/visual-spatial skills. Little is known about the mechanisms involved in Savant Syndrome, and there are no guidelines for the assessment and treatment of associated impairment or distress. Recent advances suggest considering the exceptional skills and possible disabilities along a continuum. This new perspective may lead to a greater understanding about the relationship between this syndrome and wider and better studied conditions such as autism, neurodiversity, and giftedness.
In the final section about treatments we also refer to one of the few existing examples of psychosocial treatment for this condition, that is our evolutionarily informed protocol.
Cheli, S., Bui, S. (2025). Savant Syndrome. In: Bennett, G., Goodall, E. (eds) The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Disability. Palgrave Macmillan, Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-40858-8_216-1