Savant syndrome is a condition in which a person with a
mental disability, such as an
autism spectrum disorder, demonstrates profound and
prodigious capacities or abilities far in excess of what would be considered normal. People with savant syndrome may have
neurodevelopmental disorders, notably
autism spectrum disorders, or
brain injuries. The most dramatic examples of savant syndrome occur in individuals who score very low on
IQ tests, while demonstrating exceptional skills or brilliance in specific areas, such as rapid calculation, art, memory, or musical ability. Although termed a
syndrome, it is not recognized as a
mental disorder nor as part of a mental disorder in
medical manuals such as the
ICD-10 or the
DSM-5.