October• 2018 | 29READER’S DIGESTabrainybusinessmanwithnopre-
viousartisticinterests,hadlosthis
grip on social norms: he was verbally
repetitive,changedclothesinpublic,
insulted strangers and shoplifted.
Buthewaswinningawardsatlocal
art shows.
By 2000, Dr Miller had identified
12 other patients who displayed
unexpected new talents as their neu-
rological degeneration continued. As
dementia laid waste to brain regions
associated with language, restraint
and social etiquette, the patients’
artistic abilities exploded.
Although these symptoms defied
conventional wisdom on brain dis-
ease in the elderly, Dr Miller realised
they were consistent with savant syn-
drome. Savants often display an ob-
sessive compulsion to perform their
special skill, and they exhibitdeicits
in social and language behaviours –
defects present in dementia patients.
Dr Miller wondered whether there
might be neurological similarities, too.
He read the brain scan of a five-
year-old autistic savant able to repro-
duce intricate scenes from memory.
he scan revealed abnormal inactivity
in the anterior temporal lobes of the
left hemisphere – exactly the results
he’d found in his dementia patients.
Studies suggest that parts of the ante-
rior temporal lobe are associated with
logic, verbal communication, compre-
hension and perhaps social judgment.
In most cases, scientists attribute
growth in artistic skills to practise,practise,practise.Butafterhisre-
search,DrMillerarguedthatsavant
skills emerge in dementia patients
becausethearearavagedbydisease- the anterior temporal lobe – has
actually been inhibiting latent artis-
tic abilities present in those people
allalong.heskillsdonotemerge
as a result of newly acquired brain-
power; they emerge because, for
theirsttime,theareasofthebrain
associated with the free flow of
ideas can operate unchecked.
AccordingtoDrMiller,inthe
brains of dementia patients and some
autisticsavants,thelackofinhibition
inareasassociatedwithcreativity
led to keen artistic expression and
an almost compulsive urge to create.
DerekAmatowasnoexception.
I
N THE WEEKSafter Amato’s ac-
cident, his mind raced – and his
ingers wanted to move. He found
himself tapping out patterns and
waking up from naps with his ingers
drumming against his legs. He bought
a keyboard. Without one, he felt anx-
ious, overstimulated. Only when he
was able to sit down and play did he
feel a deep sense of calm. He would
shut himself in, sometimes for as long
as three days, just him and the key-
board, exploring his new talent, trying
to understand it, and letting the music
pour out of him.
Amatoexperiencedothersymp-
toms,manyofthemnegative.Black
PHOTO: COURTESY ALONZO CLEMONS and white squares appeared in his