Fwd: SAVANTS
Dear DR Trefferet
WE haven't been introduced formally but i feel i know you through your book, your SCi Am article and your recent lecture transmitted to CARTA UCSD where I work.
I have had a long-standing interest in Savants - especially those with math skills eg prime numbers ) and visuospatial and our center, in fact, focuses on 'solving " neurological mysteries eg synesthesia, phantom pain, xenomelia ( apotemnophilia ) Capgrsas etc
Bernie Rimland had indicated he would like to collaborate but, alas, passed away.
Would you be so kind as to refer savants with unusual skills in any domain but esp math, music and art to our facility? Needless to say we would invite your participation (assuming you have the time) and coauthorship.
Coincidentally my good friend and colleague dr Deepak Chopra was visiting our lab a few weeks ago and this matter came up.
There are two classes of phenomena. First, skills that are clearly definable such as prime numbers, drawing, memory size estimation etc which can be replicated under carefully controlled settings; two-' superhuman' or even supernatural abilities like telepathy, clairvoyance etc which have long resisted replication.
my focus will on class 1- a more detailed understanding of whats going on. Before jumping to imaging there are basic simple tests one can do. But I'm also open to testing the latter.
Theres also a vast gray zone between these two classes.
We hope e can interest you in this venture
VS Ramachandran PhD MD FRCP ( Lond ) DSc
professor and director
Center for brain and cognition UCSD
La Jolla CA 92093 -010
VS,
likewise I feel that I know you through your remarkable work. We toil in the same vineyard of mysterious and (as yet) unexplained exceptional brain performance. I would welcome collaboration.
So much to explore. How do savants "know things they never learned", like the periodic table, prime numbers, solar system or whole globe geography? (my explanation is genetic memory--the genetic transmission of knowledge (nature v. nurture). I have a register of about 300 savants and about the time I think I have heard it all comes another with new unheard of skill or ability, type 1 or 2 as you refer to those skills. I met with GOMA, a celebrated Japanese musician who, after a head injury, is now an accomplished artist as well. An acquired savant with an entirely different skill post injury. Some of these savants have been part of documentaries. The "work-up" was usually imaging studies looking for 'the spot' of savant syndrome. The imaging produces very pretty pictures for TV, but very little illumination of what has happened. Imaging, impressive as it is, just is not sensitive enough (yet), even DTI or OTT, to pinpoint the underlying defects at the synapse level of savant syndrome, creativity and even autism. More productive results will come from carefully designed, intricate, neuropsychological testing. But there is always the rush to imaging.
I have been so consumed with the acquired savant, and hyperlexia (children who read early often mis-diagnosed as being on the spectrum) and paranormal phenomenon in about 1% of savants, my congenital savant registry has not been kept current. I intend to correct that. We have organized an acquired savant registry from unsolicited emails or other sources and will soon publish those preliminary results. We have designed a comprehensive survey instrument to now collect uniform data from those unsolicited, non uniform e mails and will be sending that out soon to the savants and/or families. We have done the same now for 160 hyperlexia patients/families and will be analzying that data. My exploration of para-normal subjects continues. I intend to renew some effort with the savant registry and that may be where our interests most intersect.
So there may be ways to collaborate. One person I was collaborating with, Oliver Sacks, regrettably passed away. We were exchanging some cases. I have the largest world collection of savant books, theses, professional articles, news articles, videotapes and correspondence on savant syndrome, which has gradually morphed from savant syndrome only to other manifestations of the exceptional brain. It is a gold mine of data. The hospital has been kind enough to provide a building and some staff for the Treffert Center which we intend to put to full use and explore other sources of support and expansion.
So, let me know your thoughts on this somewhat rambling response to your welcome note. Please feel free to share this with Deepak because of his interest in these same 'mysteries'. Let's see if there are ways to work together in this extraordinary vineyard.
Darold A. Treffert, M.D.
Dear Dr Trefferet
I have admired your work for several years. I am particularly fascinated with the following statements you make "How do savants "know things they never learned", like the periodic table, prime numbers, solar system or whole globe geography? (my explanation is genetic memory--the genetic transmission of knowledge (nature v. nurture). I have a register of about 300 savants and about the time I think I have heard it all comes another with new unheard of skill or ability, type 1 or 2 as you refer to those skills. I met with GOMA, a celebrated Japanese musician who, after a head injury, is now an accomplished artist as well. An acquired savant with an entirely different skill post injury"
While "genetic memory" is a good hypothesis we must remember that "genes" themselves are human constructs -names we have give to modes of knowing & experience in consciousness, which remains a mystery. Savants who have "know things they never learned" may offer a window to non local reality.
I have interest from Amazon films on a documentary on consciousness and the universe and will seek your's and Dr Ramachandran's & Diana Powell's participation. Meanwhile meet Ryan and Bill who are in charge of ISHARonline.com
We would love to document and archive your work for future generations and promote it on social media to increase awareness & expand the conversation so we can all learn more. With great respect & admiration of your work
deepak
Carlsbad, CA 92009
Chopra Foundation
Jiyo
Chopra Center for Wellbeing
discoveringyourcosmicself.com