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A savant poet

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

A. Dowker ,
B. Hermelin  and
L. Pring
A. Dowker
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Oxford; and Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths College, University of London
B. Hermelin*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Oxford; and Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths College, University of London
L. Pring
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Oxford; and Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths College, University of London
*
1Address for correspondence: Professor Beate Hermelin Department of PsychologyUniversity of LondonGoldsmiths CollegeNew CrossLondon SE14 6NW.
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Synopsis

Poems by an individual with a diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome were analysed and compared with those of a comparison poet. Though the savant poet performed less efficiently on formal language tests supposed to tap creativity, there were few differences between the two poets in regard to the poems' content and the use of various structural devices. The poems by the savant referred more often to aspects of self-analysis, while descriptions of people not related to the self were less frequent. Both poets made use of similes and metaphors. The results are discussed in terms of different modular domains within the language system.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 26 , Issue 5 , September 1996 , pp. 913 - 924
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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