How did Derek Amato become an acquired savant almost overnight?

Stroke of Genius | Hidden Brain : NPR. Stroke of Genius | Hidden Brain Derek Amato wasn’t born a musical savant. He became one—almost instantly—after hitting his head on the bottom of a swimming pool.

What is acquired musical savant syndrome?

In acquired savant syndrome astonishing new abilities, typically in music, art or mathematics, appear unexpectedly in ordinary persons after a head injury, stroke or other central nervous system (CNS) incident where no such abilities or interests were present pre-incident.

Who is a musical savant?

Talented savants are those cognitively impaired persons in whom the musical, artistic or other special abilities are more prominent and highly honed, usually within an area of single expertise and are very conspicuous when viewed in contrast to overall disability.

Can someone become a savant?

It’s possible that he had “sudden savant syndrome”, in which exceptional abilities emerge after a brain injury or disease. It’s extremely rare, with just 25 verified cases on the planet. There’s Tony Cicoria, an orthopaedic surgeon who was struck by lightning at a New York park in 1994.

What does acquired savant syndrome mean in music?

Acquired Savant Syndrome has been described in articles and studies “as when a tragedy turns you into a genius.” At Classic Pianos on South Broadway in Denver, Amato told CBS4’s Rick Sallinger that black and white squares appear in his mind when he’s at the piano. “I just follow what the blocks tell me to do.

Who is the only savant with savant syndrome?

Derek Amato (born November 19, 1966) is an American composer and pianist who received a head injury on October 27, 2006, and subsequently became a musical savant. He is the only known musical savant to have developed savant syndrome through a brain injury.

How did Derek Amato become a savant?

Acquired savant syndrome is a condition where “dormant savant skills emerge, sometimes at the prodigious level, after a brain injury or disease…where few such skills were evident before.” Reeves said that the injury must have changed Amato’s brain chemistry.

How are savants born and how are they acquired?

Most savants are born with their unique abilities, but a small number are what Treffert calls “acquired savants,” people who had their talents unlocked after an illness or injury affected the brain. These cases have led Treffert and other researches to theorize that we might all have these capabilities lying…