Autism Spectrum Disorder and Savant Syndrome: A Systematic Literature Review

• Published in: Soa--chʻŏngsonyŏn chŏngsin ŭihak = Journal of child & adolescent psychiatry Vol. 34; no. 2; pp. 76 - 92
• Main Author: Park, Hyun Ok
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) 대한소아청소년정신의학회 01.04.2023; Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Subjects: Special; Hyper-systemizing; Savant syndrome; Detail focused cognitive processor; Cognitive characteristics; Enhanced perceptual functioning; Autism spectrum disorder
• ISSN: 1225-729X; 2233-9183
• DOI: 10.5765/jkacap.230003

This study aimed to analyze research trends in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and savant syndrome and their cognitive characteristics through a systematic literature review. The objectives of this study were to establish an overview of research trends in ASD and savant syndrome, analyze the overall characteristics of individuals with ASD and savant syndrome, and examine their cognitive characteristics. For the systematic literature review, three criteria were used to select review articles: 1) literature from peer-reviewed journals, published in the past 15 years, from 2008 to 2022; 2) subjects with ASD and savant syndrome; 3) study objectives focused on the basic phenomenon and cognitive characteristics of ASD and savant syndrome. Finally, based on the selection criteria, a total of 40 articles were included. Five themes and nine subthemes were derived from the analysis of 40 studies. The five main themes were as follows: 1) What is savant syndrome? 2) Demographic characteristics of savant syndrome; 3) Spectra of savant syndrome; 4) Savant syndrome and ASD; and 5) Cognitive characteristics of ASD with savant syndrome. The subthemes of the cognitive characteristics were weak central coherence, detail-focused cognitive processing, enhanced perceptual functioning, and hyper-systemizing. Several studies have been conducted to understand ASD and savant syndrome; however, no single theory can specify the cognitive characteristics of people with ASD and savant syndrome. Therefore, further systematic and multi-layered research on ASD and savant syndrome are required for more comprehensive results.