Unlocking the Inner Genius Within

Abstract

People with savant syndrome are characterized by rare intellectual gifts in one or more specific areas. Acquired savant syndrome occurs, in most cases, after a Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and is associated with the development of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Specifically damage to the left temporal lobes caused by FTD has been linked to the acquisition of savant skills. The left-right compensation theory explains the process responsible for acquiring new abilities. It explains that the inhibition of pathways on the left side of the brain, specifically the temporal lobes, can cause compensatory growth on the right side of the brain. Allan Synder's experiment utilizing transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) demonstrates this theory utilizing low levels of electrical current targeting the left region of the brain to stimulate the formation of new neural connections on the right side. Relatively new technologies and current research is promising to understanding acquired savant syndrome and gives light to possibilities of unlocking one's inner genius.