Friday, March 6, 2015
It's harder to love them than you think
So you've watched Rain Man, read Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, and your favorite character on The Big Bang theory is Sheldon. You're astounded by the quirky charm of Raymond, Oskar, and Sheldon--who, aptly, have quirky yet lovable names. But is every savant the perfect blend of lovable and curious? Moreover, is it appropriate to assume that every person with a learning or social disability is a savant? The answer is absolutely not. Despite the undeniable charm of savants, they are not an extremely prevalent majority in population. Only around 10% of those diagnosed on the autism spectrum are considered savants. Moreover, only 1% of those diagnosed with some other form of mental retardation are considered savants. Assuming that all autistic or mentally-challenged individuals have some unique, incredible skill is dehumanizing. Society should learn to appreciate humans for humans: abilities, disabilities, and all.
Friday, January 16, 2015
Personality Shifts in Savant Syndrome
Picture this headline: A heroin addict gets clean, becomes a sensational artist.
Tommy McHugh--a former English criminal--experienced an exceptionally unusual consequence to brain hemorrhaging: a personality shift. Likely for the better.
McHugh suffered from a stroke that affected areas of his frontal and temporal lobe; however, his post-stroke complaints did not include problems with cognition, communication, depression, or vision. After awakening from his coma, McHugh reported an uncontrollable urge to paint, write, and sculpt--supposedly for up to 18 hours a day.
Tommy McHugh--a former English criminal--experienced an exceptionally unusual consequence to brain hemorrhaging: a personality shift. Likely for the better.
McHugh suffered from a stroke that affected areas of his frontal and temporal lobe; however, his post-stroke complaints did not include problems with cognition, communication, depression, or vision. After awakening from his coma, McHugh reported an uncontrollable urge to paint, write, and sculpt--supposedly for up to 18 hours a day.
This is unusual, however, explainable. The frontal and temporal lobes of the human brain are responsible for understanding meaning; those in artistic professions are often thought to have enlarged frontal and/or temporal lobes. When McHugh suffered from his stroke, a sudden flow of blood altered the chemistry in his temporal lobes--making his personality transform from heroin addict to artist.
Unfortunately, McHugh passed away at 51 in 2012. However, his legacy remains. He worked with his city's council to create a place where people attempting to cope with illness--physical, emotional, or otherwise--could safely express themselves.
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