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Meet Jason. One blow to the head changed the way he sees the world. Click to read about our case studies.
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Could autism be a perceptual disorder? The Intense World Theory holds that the condition is the result of a hyperreactive brain’s attempt to limit perceptual input. Click to find out why it might be a key to the cure.
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Like to read? Our lab has contributed to many publications on synesthesia and savant syndrome. Click to read some of our papers.
Exploring the link between synesthesia, savant syndrome and autism may advance our understanding of cognitive talent and lead to a cure.
About Us
We are a group of researchers in St. Louis with collaborators in Denmark, Finland, London and Vancouver. Our research seeks to understand the connection between the three related neurological conditions of synesthesia, savant syndrome and autism. Synesthesia involves a mixing of the senses—stimulation in one sensory or cognitive stream involuntarily, or automatically, leads to associated internal or external (illusory or hallucinatory) experiences in a second unstimulated sensory or cognitive system. Savant syndrome is a condition whereby an individual gains abnormal skills limited to one particular domain. Autism is a disorder that involves deficits in social interaction and communication. Although an individual may have only one of these conditions, many savants are synesthetes and exhibit autistic traits. Likewise, savantism is highly prevalent among autists. We believe that exploring the link between synesthesia, savant syndrome and autism may advance our understanding of cognitive talent and lead to a cure.
Read MoreMost Recent Thoughts
May 3, 2013 |
Sloppy Psychology and Zero Tolerance Policies
Zero tolerance policies are purported to make our schools safer. But they simply aren’t effective....
April 30, 2013 |
An Unusual Case of Synesthesia
In a 1913 article in the The Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Isador Coriat describes a case of “colored pain,”...
April 26, 2013 |
Struck By Lightning
Lightning results from a negative charge in the clouds that causes the ground to become positively charged,...
April 23, 2013 |
"I Can Easily Beat BlackJack"
There are people who can remember four decks of cards in a few minutes or recite Pi to 20,000 decimal points. Do...