Questions

1. Explain in detail what "savant syndrome" means.

Savants, despite serious mental or physical disability, have amazing, and sometimes spectacular, talents. This is one of the most fascinating phenomena in the study of human differences and cognitive psychology. http://www.psy.dmu.ac.uk/drhiles/Savant%20Syndrome.htm

2. What does genius mean?  Explain the difference between genius and savant.

One of the most awesome aptitudes of the brain is personified in the genius; an individual with sometimes astounding talents in one or more areas of achievement, usually without any education in their field. The difference between a genius and a savant is geniuses are astounding in various fields but a savant has mental and physical disabilities showing only one spike of ability in one area. http://scienceandreligion.com/genius.htm

3. What is a stroke and how could it affect your mental functioning?

 A stroke is a medical emergency caused by the blockage or rupture of an artery, which prevents the flow of blood to the brain. The injuries suffered after the stroke depends on where the stroke occurred and how much of the brain was affected. Smaller strokes may cause minor problems, such as weakness in an arm or leg. Larger strokes may lead to paralysis or death. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/7624.php

4. What is a functional MRI and how does it help us understand brain activity?

 Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a relatively new procedure that uses magnetic resonance imaging to measure the tiny metabolic changes that occur in an active part of the brain. Functional magnetic resonance uses a powerful magnetic field, radio frequency pulses and a computer to produce detailed pictures. It is used to: examine the anatomy of brain, determine which part of the brain is handling thought, speech, movement, and sensation (also known as brain mapping), helps assess the effects of a stroke, trauma or degenerative disease, monitor the growth of brain tumors. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=fmribrain

5. What is the corpus callosum and what role does it play in your brain's activity?

 The corpus callosum is a huge bundle of nerve fibers found in brains belonging to mammals. It connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain, therefore, is responsible for most of the communication between the two hemispheres. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-corpus-callosum.htm

6. What is epilepsy and how might it affect your brain's abilities?

 Epilepsy is a neurological condition in which a person has seizures starting in the brain; it can cause memory loss or anterograde amnesia. http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/

7. What is autism?

 Autism is a complex developmental disability which is the result of a neurological disorder. It affects brain functions such as the development of the person's communication and social interaction skills. People with autism usually have issues with non verbal communication and social interactions, its as if these kids lived in a different world. http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/brain/autism.html

8. What is Asperger's Syndrome?

AS is a neurobiological disorder that is part of a group of conditions called autism spectrum disorders which refers to a range of developmental disabilities that includes autism as well. AS is characterized by poor social interactions, obsessions, odd speech patterns, and other peculiar mannerisms similar to those kids with high functioning autism. Kids with AS often have few facial expressions and have difficulty reading the body language of others. http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/brain/asperger.html