title: The structure of savant calendrical knowledge.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to explore the organization of the calendar knowledge base underlying date calculation by assessing the ability of savant calendar calculators to free recall a series of date lists.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four experiments are reported that assessed recall of structural and non-structural features of the calendar in eight savant calendar calculators (seven males; one female; median age 34 y 6 mo; age range 27-47 y), five of whom had a diagnosis on the autism spectrum. The inclusion criterion was a genuine calculation ability rather than an interest in dates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean recall was facilitated for material organized according to the structural features of a calendar (leap years, dates falling on the same weekday, dates occurring at 28 y intervals) but not for a non-structural calendar feature (Easter Sunday).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Distinctions are drawn between two sources of savant calendar-related knowledge, structural and event related. It has been suggested that structural knowledge plays a key role in the acquisition and operation of savant date calculation skills.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK. l.reidy@shu.ac.uk
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Heavey
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hermelin
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Crane
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pring
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D019359:Knowledge; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D013998:Time Perception / Q000502:physiology*