Savant Syndrome is one of the most fascinating cognitive phenomena in psychology. There are many types of disorders an individual may have that savant skills will be found, but the most common is the autistic savant. Autistic savant refers to individuals with autism disorder who have extraordinary skills not exhibited by most people. In the past people with these skills were referred to as `Idiot Savants'. A French term meaning unlearned (idiot) skill (savant). Dr. Bernard Rimland first introduced the more appropriate term `Autistic Savant' in a 1978 article in psychology today. (Edelson, S.M., 1995) Darold Treffert M.D. defines savant syndrome as follows

Savant Syndrome is an exceedingly rare condition in which persons with serious mental handicaps, either from developmental disability (mental retardation) or major mental illness (early infantile autism or schizophrenia), have spectacular islands of ability or brilliance which stands in stark, markedly incongruous contrast to the...