Display Settings:

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination
    Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2009 May 27;364(1522):1443-7.

    Assessing musical skills in autistic children who are not savants.

    Source

    Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths College, University of London, New Cross, London SE14 6NW, UK. p.heaton@gold.ac.uk

    Abstract

    Descriptions of autistic musical savants suggest that they possess extraordinary skills within the domain. However, until recently little was known about the musical skills and potential of individuals with autism who are not savants. The results from these more recent studies investigating music perception, cognition and learning in musically untrained children with autism have revealed a pattern of abilities that are either enhanced or spared. For example, increased sensitivity to musical pitch and timbre is frequently observed, and studies investigating perception of musical structure and emotions have consistently failed to reveal deficits in autism. While the phenomenon of the savant syndrome is of considerable theoretical interest, it may have led to an under-consideration of the potential talents and skills of that vast majority of autistic individuals, who do not meet savant criteria. Data from empirical studies show that many autistic children possess musical potential that can and should be developed.

    PMID:
    19528029
    [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
    PMCID:
    PMC2677585
    Free PMC Article

      Supplemental Content

      Icon for HighWire Press Icon for PubMed Central

      Save items

      loading

      Recent activity

      Your browsing activity is empty.

      Activity recording is turned off.

      Turn recording back on

      See more...
      Write to the Help Desk