Accidental Genius

In 1955, when Darold Treffert, MD, (1989) reported forabilities is allowed to emerge because of a lack of
his first position as an attending psychiatrist, among hisinterference. This leaves open the door for the
first patients there were several autistics with specialpossibility that these potentials could be tapped in
abilities. Young David had memorized the bus scheduleordinary individuals. Treffert's recent writings - which
for each stop in every major city in Wisconsin. Thenmay be found on the Wisconsin Medical Society's
Billy could stand on the free throw line of the hospital'swebsite - highlight his concept that there may be an
basketball court and NEVER miss a shot. During hisaccidental genius within everyone. This reflects his
career Treffert discovered that approximately 10% ofresearch into several cases where an otherwise
all people diagnosed with autism in the state ofnormal person develops savant-like symptoms soon
Wisconsin had some type of savant-like abilities.after experiencing brain trauma or an illness.
One of the most notable of the cases reviewed byAt this point, Treffert's research establishes that the
Treffert was Kim Peek, a prodigious savant ofthere are two criteria for unleashing potentials hidden
phenomenal ability who began reading at 2 and can,deep within the human substrates. First, a person
among other amazing abilities, quote verbatim fromwould need to be born with a neurological defect or
over 12,000 books. Medical research has indicated thatthe defect would have to occur during the first couple
Peek's brain does not function normally. Specifically, theof years of their lives - this implies that increased
corpus callosum and the anterior commissure - theabilities can occur due to a destruction of mental
two structures that connect the left and rightcapacity. This leads to the obvious question as to
hemispheres of his brain - are missing. He also waswhether enhancements can occur without the cost
born with macroephaly and damage to his cerebellum.created by diminished mental functioning. While it may
(Kim Peek was the subject of the Rainman movie.be a long time before clinicians and scientists can
Peek's character was played by Dustin Hoffman.)recreate savant-like abilities in normal people (i.e.
Treffert's research into prodigious savants (i.e. peoplenon-savants), by conducting an evidence-based study
with diagnosed both as having the savant syndromeof hypnosis subjects and reviewing Transcranial
and the most remarkable abilities) led him to severalMagnetics (TCM) research literature, one could logically
conclusions. The main one is what he calls the "tyrannyinfer the high probability of mental enhancement.
of the left brain." This means that once the rest of theTreffert's second criterion was that once detected, the
brain - and especially the right brain - is free fromability needed to be nurtured. He noticed that once a
interference from the left, then phenomenal abilitiesprodigious savant's special ability was discovered it
emerge. Secondly, the memorization ability of thebegan to flourish once it was encouraged through
savant predominantly involves implicit memory - that is,praise and other recognition. However, when the
memory devoid of meaning. These savants tend tointerest waned or was removed - sometimes for the
have unfathomable memory and calculating capability.good of the patient - then the ability diminished.
However, as there is a disconnection between the(Treffert objects to the misguided removal of such
semantic facilities of the brain and their explicit memorynurturing.) Additionally, it was discovered in the analysis
formation, the practical value of their ability is largelyof Kim Peek that once one savant ability was
negated.uncovered others could arise. For instance, Peek's
What this does underline, however, is that the expanseability to memorize books came first; his ability to
of implicit memories, calculating abilities, and musicalmemorize symphonies, later.