ical Board, it is estimated that only fifty prodigious savants exist worldwide." (Squire 574)
             In savants the encounters of impressive abilities are always linked to spectacular memory. This superior memory is very deep, but only within a very narrow area. For example, a savant might be able to memorize every word in a thesaurus, but ask that same person the name of his or her own mother and he gives a blank stare as his answer. "The skills often associated with savant syndrome are the ability to play the piano beautifully, meaning complex pieces one would need months to learn by ear alone", (Howe 955). Being able to give a day of the week from any past or future date, and solving complex math problems extremely fast are also common feats performed by savants. "Another interesting skill some savants' possess is the perfect appreciation of time without the knowledge of a clock."(Howe 956)
             One example of a fictional idiot savant is Forrest Gump, played by Tom Hanks. Forrest was born with a mental handicap of having an IQ of seventy-five, lower than the av
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