Savants, segments, art and autism.
This study describes two experiments which investigate pattern construction by graphically gifted, autistic savants. We explore whether the notion of weak central coherence in autism might be extended to account for the relatively high frequency of savants among the autistic population. We also suggest that an awareness of constituent segments in wholes may be relevant to artistic talent in general.
Pring
L
L
Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths College, University of London, New Cross, U.K.
Hermelin
B
B
Heavey
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001076:Aptitude; D001154:Art; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002672:Child, Gifted / Q000523:psychology; D003405:Creativity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009949:Orientation; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011340:Problem Solving; D011594:Psychometrics; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012016:Reference Values; D014888:Wechsler Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data