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Calendar calculating in savants with autism and healthy calendar calculators

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 October 2008

A. M. Dubischar-Krivec ,
N. Neumann ,
F. Poustka ,
C. Braun ,
N. Birbaumer  and
S. Bölte
A. M. Dubischar-Krivec*
Affiliation:
Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany
N. Neumann
Affiliation:
Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany
F. Poustka
Affiliation:
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, J. W. Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
C. Braun
Affiliation:
Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany
N. Birbaumer
Affiliation:
Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCSS), Ospedale San Camillo, Venezia Lido, Italy
S. Bölte
Affiliation:
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, J. W. Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
*
*Address for correspondence: A. M. Dubischar-Krivec, Ph.D, Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, Gartenstraße 29, D-72074 Tübingen, Germany. (Email: anna.dubischar@uni-tuebingen.de)
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Abstract

Background

Calendar calculation is the ability to quickly name the day that a given date falls on. Previous research has suggested that savant calendar calculation is based on rote memory and the use of rule-based arithmetic skills. The objective of this study was to identify the cognitive processes that distinguish calendar calculation in savant individuals from healthy calendar calculators.

Method

Savant calendar calculators with autism (ACC, n=3), healthy calendar calculators (HCC, n=3), non-savant subjects with autism (n=6) and healthy calendar calculator laymen (n=18) were included in the study. All participants calculated dates of the present (current month). In addition, ACC and HCC also calculated dates of the past and future 50 years.

Results

ACC showed shorter reaction times and fewer errors than HCC and non-savant subjects with autism, and significantly fewer errors than healthy calendar calculator laymen when calculating dates of the present. Moreover, ACC performed faster and more accurate than HCC regarding past dates. However, no differences between ACC and HCC were detected for future date calculation.

Conclusions

The findings may imply distinct calendar calculation strategies in ACC and HCC, with HCC relying on calendar regularities for all types of dates and an involvement of (rote) memory in ACC when processing dates of the past and the present.

Keywords

Autistic intelligencecognitionextraordinary abilitiespervasive developmental disorderssavant syndrome
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 39 , Issue 8 , August 2009 , pp. 1355 - 1363
Copyright
Copyright © 2008 Cambridge University Press

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