An Analysis of Calendar Performance in Two Autistic Calendar Savants

Overview

Journal Learn Mem

Specialty Neurology

Date 2007 Aug 10

PMID 17686947

Citations 3

Authors

Daniel P Kennedy

Larry R Squire

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

We acquired large data sets of calendar performance from two autistic calendar savants, DG and RN. An analysis of their errors and reaction times revealed that (1) both individuals had knowledge of calendar information from a limited range of years; (2) there was no evidence for the use of memorized anchor dates that could, by virtue of counting away from the anchors, allow correct responses to questions about other dates; and (3) the two individuals differed in their calendar knowledge, as well as in their ability to perform secondary tasks in which calendar knowledge was assessed indirectly. In view of the fact that there are only 14 possible annual calendars, we suggest that both savants worked by memorizing these 14 possible calendar arrangements.

Citing Articles

Brief Report: Two Day-Date Processing Methods in an Autistic Savant Calendar Calculator.

De Marco M, Iavarone A, Santoro G, Carlomagno S J Autism Dev Disord. 2015; 46(3):1096-102.

PMID: 26476739 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-015-2626-z.

AMPAKINE enhancement of social interaction in the BTBR mouse model of autism.

Silverman J, Oliver C, Karras M, Gastrell P, Crawley J Neuropharmacology. 2012; 64:268-82.

PMID: 22801296 PMC: 3445667. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2012.07.013.

A calendar savant with episodic memory impairments.

Olson I, Berryhill M, Drowos D, Brown L, Chatterjee A Neurocase. 2010; 16(3):208-18.

PMID: 20104390 PMC: 2917639. DOI: 10.1080/13554790903405701.

References

Thioux M, Stark D, Klaiman C, Schultz R . The day of the week when you were born in 700 ms: calendar computation in an Autistic savant. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform. 2006; 32(5):1155-68. DOI: 10.1037/0096-1523.32.5.1155. View

Lord C, Risi S, Lambrecht L, Cook Jr E, Leventhal B, DiLavore P . The autism diagnostic observation schedule-generic: a standard measure of social and communication deficits associated with the spectrum of autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 2000; 30(3):205-23. View

Happe F, Frith U . The weak coherence account: detail-focused cognitive style in autism spectrum disorders. J Autism Dev Disord. 2006; 36(1):5-25. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-005-0039-0. View

Parker E, Cahill L, McGaugh J . A case of unusual autobiographical remembering. Neurocase. 2006; 12(1):35-49. DOI: 10.1080/13554790500473680. View

Lord C, Rutter M, Le Couteur A . Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised: a revised version of a diagnostic interview for caregivers of individuals with possible pervasive developmental disorders. J Autism Dev Disord. 1994; 24(5):659-85. DOI: 10.1007/BF02172145. View

Young R, Nettelbeck T . The "intelligence" of calendrical calculators. Am J Ment Retard. 1994; 99(2):186-200. View

Ho E, Tsang A, Ho D . An investigation of the calendar calculation ability of a Chinese calendar savant. J Autism Dev Disord. 1991; 21(3):315-27. DOI: 10.1007/BF02207328. View

Hermelin B, OConnor N . Idiot savant calendrical calculators: rules and regularities. Psychol Med. 1986; 16(4):885-93. DOI: 10.1017/s0033291700011892. View

OConnor N, Hermelin B . Idiot savant calendrical calculators: maths or memory?. Psychol Med. 1984; 14(4):801-6. DOI: 10.1017/s0033291700019772. View

10.

ROSEN A . Adult calendar calculators in a psychiatric OPD: a report of two cases and comparative analysis of abilities. J Autism Dev Disord. 1981; 11(3):285-92. DOI: 10.1007/BF01531511. View

11.

Hill A . An investigation of calendar calculating by an idiot savant. Am J Psychiatry. 1975; 132(5):557-60. DOI: 10.1176/ajp.132.5.557. View

12.

Baron-Cohen S, Richler J, Bisarya D, Gurunathan N, Wheelwright S . The systemizing quotient: an investigation of adults with Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism, and normal sex differences. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2003; 358(1430):361-74. PMC: 1693117. DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2002.1206. View

13.

Allen G, Courchesne E . Attention function and dysfunction in autism. Front Biosci. 2001; 6:D105-19. DOI: 10.2741/allen. View

14.

Iavarone A, Patruno M, Galeone F, Chieffi S, Carlomagno S . Brief report: error pattern in an autistic savant calendar calculator. J Autism Dev Disord. 2006; 37(4):775-9. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-006-0190-2. View

15.

Mottron L, Lemmens K, Gagnon L, Seron X . Non-algorithmic access to calendar information in a calendar calculator with autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 2006; 36(2):239-47. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-005-0059-9. View