title: [Asperger syndrome with highly exceptional calendar memory: a case report].
abstract: Some patients with pervasive developmental disorders develop unusual talents, which are characterized as savant syndrome. Herein we present neuropsychological examination and brain imaging (fMRI and brain SPECT) findings of an 18-year-old male with Asperger syndrome and highly unusual calendar memory. Neuropsychological evaluation of the case indicated mild attention, memory, and problem solving deficits, and severe executive function deficits that included conceptualization, category formation, and abstraction. Functional MRI findings showed activation above the baseline level (P<0.05) in the bilateral inferior parietal lobule, precuneus, superior and middle frontal gyri, and medial frontal cortex. Brain SPECT findings, in comparison to rest-SPECT findings, showed that there was hypoperfusion in some brain regions, including the right frontal cortex and right parietal cortex. Baseline blood perfusion in the left frontal cortex was also observed, as well as hypoperfusion in the right parietal-occipital cortex and in the right basal ganglion (compared to the left side). The results of the present study and further research will contribute to our understanding of calendar memory and savant syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Kastamonu Devlet Hastanesi, Psikiyatri Kl., Kastamonu. aliemresevik@gmail.com
authors.forename: Ali Emre
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Sevik
authors.forename: Ebru
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cengel Kültür
authors.forename: Hilal
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Demirel
authors.forename: Kader
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karlı Oğuz
authors.forename: Onur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Akça
authors.forename: Eser
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lay Ergün
authors.forename: Başaran
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Demir
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D020817:Asperger Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000523:psychology*; D001288:Attention; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D011340:Problem Solving; D011859:Radiography; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon