Autism and Savants

One of the great success stories from the world of autism, Temple Grandin revolutionized the field of livestock management, empowered by her sensitivity with animals. Tommy McHugh displayed no such sensitivity-until a brain hemorrhage transformed him from a brawler into a gentle soul. As scientists continue to investigate differences between the male and female brain, the special characteristics of autistics and savants take on increased importance. This program describes the latest research in that area, shedding light on the role of testosterone, fetal development, evolutionary factors, and the notable lack of romantic and sexual bonding among the autistic. (53 minutes)

In the field of brain research there is no subject more intriguing than the savant-an individual with mental, behavioral, or even physical disability who possesses acute powers of observation, mathematical aptitude, or artistic talent. This three-part series provides an enthralling look into the psychology and neuroscience of the savant's mysterious world. 3-part series, 53 minutes each.

Do people with autism experience love, romantic attraction, and heartbreak the same way non-autistic people feel those emotions? This ABC News program profiles Paul DeSavino, a 36-year-old man living with the disorder who says he is amorously drawn to a female acquaintance. Interviews with Paul, his mother, and autism expert Dr. Peter Gerhardt shed light on the complexities of the subject. An additional segment entitled My Brother's Keeper" examines the disorder in the context of sibling connections. A young man discusses his brother's autism and how it has shaped their relationship, which is visibly expressed in a loving, open manner. (23 minutes)"

Jake and Andrew are two young boys with autism. Diagnosed in preschool, they have been undergoing applied behavioral analysis for several years now, with mixed results. This two-part series from ABC News examines their progress while discussing the benefits and apparent limits of ABA. 2-part series, 22 minutes each.

Four years have gone by since the two preschool boys profiled in Autism and Applied Behavioral Analysis began intensive ABA therapy-formerly considered controversial, but now hailed as one of the few effective approaches to treating the disorder. This ABC News program brings viewers up to date on the boys and further explains the benefits of ABA in treating autism. But the program communicates a sense of frustration, as well-with the financial expense of ABA therapy, with the limited success of even this form of autism treatment, and with how much is simply still not understood about this mysterious disorder. (22 minutes)

Reudiger Gamm performs complex arithmetic instantly and without help-his brain stores numbers like a calculator. Orlando Sorrel remembers exactly what he was doing on any date, at any hour, and can accurately predict the day of the week thousands of years in the future. Kim Peek-the original Rain Man"-has read 12,000 books and hasn't forgotten a single word. What lies behind these astonishing abilities? This program explores recent research into the vast mental capacities of so-called savants. Studying brain structure and other important neurological factors, the film also examines why savants often lack basic interpersonal and survival skills. (53 minutes)"

Mute until the age of nine, Stephen Wiltshire learned to communicate through realistic, richly detailed drawings. Alonzo Clemens sculpts clay animal figures with great precision, even though he can barely form a sentence. Matt Savage faced extraordinary developmental problems as a child but has become a teen prodigy among jazz musicians. What is the relationship between creativity and autistic behavior? Why does slow learning-such as the young Albert Einstein experienced-sometimes conceal genius? This program focuses on these questions and other aspects of autistic brain research, revealing fascinating links between the realms of savants and prodigies. (54 minutes)