“Idiot Savant With Unusual Mechanical Ability: An Organic Explanation”, 1980 ():
Suggests that an explanation of idiot savant phenomenon may lie outside of environmental factors, perhaps in the division of functions between the cerebral hemispheres. Frequently, mental retardation is due to congenital or early childhood organic brain syndrome that affects both hemispheres and impairs the development of both kinds of mental abilities. If these organic factors are used to explain the idiot savant phenomenon, then it can be inferred that organic brain syndrome has affected the left hemisphere but has permitted the development of the right hemisphere. A case report is presented to support this argument.
…The life history of Mr. A, recently reported by 1979, indicated that he always had difficulty with language skills and even as an adult could not sign his name without a model. Hoffman and Reeves inferred that the cause of retardation must have been congenital. Now an institutionalized adult, Mr. A has developed an amazing capacity to repair and modify mechanical and electrical devices.
…When Mr. Z regained speech [after being shot in the head], he had completely shed the dialect of the region of his birth. He had also forgotten how to read, write, or do arithmetic operations. After intense practice, he relearned the alphabet and how to write the letters with his left hand. He could faithfully copy pages of written material, but even after several years of special education remains unable to write complete words or sign his name without a model (as was the case with Mr. A).
He responds to questions in a very slow manner, often with long pauses looking for the next word, and is utterly incapable of making or appreciating any abstractions.
Until recently Mr. Z lived with siblings in Mexico and frequently found full-time employment as ranch hand, gardener, or factory worker. He now lives with a sibling in the United States. His right side has less muscular development, coordination, and sensation (sight, smell, touch, and taste) than the left. Nevertheless, in a short time after his arrival in this country he learned how to ride a bicycle and gradually increased his range up to 10 miles.
He has never gotten lost, even though he cannot remember the names of streets. His gardening, carpentry, and mechanical talents are outstanding. Without instruction he dismantled, reassembled, and modified several multi-gear bicycles. He designed a punching bag that would move and simulate the bobbing and weaving action of a live opponent. He was supplied with crayons, paper, and magazines, and although he had never received any artistic instruction, he was able to accurately copy pictures.
One of the most amazing things that he does is a series of tricks with strings and small objects. He demonstrates these tricks to others, and although the tricks look simple enough, no one else has been able to do them.
Mr. Z is a man of high motivation and intense practice in everything that he does. He also receives much reinforcement from his family, friends, and teachers. However, despite studying hours a day, he has been unable to learn more than a few phrases in English, read, write without a model, or do arithmetic.