Top Ten Savants

Temple Grandin is known for her contributions to animal science, her sharp understanding of animal behavior, and her invention of the hug machine, a device designed to calm individuals, particularly those with autism.

Grandin has made significant contributions to the treatment and behavior of cattle and has shared her experiences with autism. She is ranked among the top 100 influential people worldwide by TIME.

Also known as the "megasavant," Kim Peek was notable for his extraordinary abilities and multitasking skills. Even at the age of one, he could scan both pages of a book simultaneously with each eye and retain almost all the information.

Peek could also provide accurate location routes in cities, recall calendar information precisely, and know a myriad of trivial facts, thanks to his proficient reading skills. However, these abilities came at the cost of his social skills. Although often mistaken for having autism, Peek was born with a rare syndrome that contributed to his unique talents. He also significantly inspired the fictional character Raymond Babbitt in the movie "Rain Man."

If you hit your head hard enough, you would likely suffer severe pain and possibly brain damage. However, in rare cases, brain damage can result in unique abilities. Derek Amato is an example of this phenomenon.

After accidentally banging his head while diving into a shallow pool in 2006, Amato developed the exceptional ability to play the piano fluently without any prior practice. Unfortunately, this accident also caused partial hearing loss, headaches, and memory loss.

Living in a time before autism was diagnosed, Tom Wiggins was born blind and enslaved, yet he became a prodigious pianist. He attained piano skills at the age of four after hearing a piece of music and produced his first song at age five without instruction. Throughout his life, Wiggins memorized thousands of songs.

Born in 1707, Jedediah Buxton may have been one of the first people referred to as an autistic savant. Despite his lack of formal education, he had a keen interest in numbers and possessed sharp arithmetic skills.

A prime example of his abilities was his measurement of the entire lands of Elmton, spanning several thousand acres, using various units, including square inches. Buxton taught himself these skills despite being illiterate.

Diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder, Matt Savage is known for his prodigious musical skills. He learned to read at 18 months and taught himself to read and play music by age six. His intelligence and talents have helped him win numerous awards.

Despite suffering a severe brain injury at a young age, Alonzo Clemons possesses an extraordinary visual memory. Clemons is known for his ability to create highly detailed animal sculptures from various materials after just a brief glance at an animal. Many of his works have sold for hundreds to thousands of dollars.