Savant Syndrome is a rare, but amazing condition in which persons exhibit almost unimaginable mental powers –– including musical, mathematical, artistic, verbal, and calendrical “savantism.” The website of the Wisconsin Medical Society lists 29 savant profiles. As described by leading researcher Darold Treffert, the Acquired Savant has extraordinary intellectual abilities as a result of traumatic brain injury or autism and developmental disability. But the Sudden Savant is an otherwise normal person who suddenly and unexpectedly acquires savant-like talent.

The autistic genius Kim Peek was the basis for the 1988 academy-award-winning film “Rain Man,” with Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise. It brought international attention to the Savant syndrome. Nowadays, Daniel Tammet is a well-known numerical savant who can figure out cube roots quicker than a calculator and recall pi to 22,514 decimal places. Stephen Wiltshire has the ability to draw exact replicas of what his eyes have seen after a quick glance, down to the exact number of windows in tall skyscrapers. Albert Einstein was a math savant who had slight autism symptoms. Benjamin Franklin, the explorer of electricity, was also a gifted savant –– evidently struck by lightning.

Medical research is presently looking into lightning’s possible effects on the human brain’s electrical circuitry. In the BBC documentary “Lightning: Nature Strikes Back,” a lightning strike victim received magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Even though there was no apparent physical damage, the electrical impulses revealed that his brain functions were re-wired by the lightning. In another analysis of human cognition, Allan Snyder discovered that people undergoing transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) could for a few minutes suddenly exhibit savant intelligence –– exceptional surges of brilliant mental ability –– as a short-term effect of magnetic brain stimulation.

Associate professor Koichi Takaki at Iwate University in Japan recently tested DNA’s reaction to high-voltage lightning –– with 50,000 to 100,000 volts for a 10-millionth of a second. During the artificial lightning process, Takaki found that “secreted protein and enzymes initially decreased but then multiplied dramatically.” He said lots of lightning yields a good harvest of everyday farm crops such as shiitake mushrooms. (“Lightning prods shiitake to multiply,” Japan Times, January 1, 2010)

Scientists at Florida’s Scripps Research Institute have shown for the first time that “lifeless” proteins, devoid of all genetic material, can evolve just like higher forms of life. Charles Weissmann, who led the study, said: “In viruses, mutation is linked to changes in nucleic acid sequence that leads to resistance. Now, this adaptability has moved one level down –– to prions and protein folding –– and it’s clear that you do not need nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) for the process of evolution.” (“Lifeless prion proteins are capable of evolution,” BBC, January 1, 2010)

If protein and enzyme secretions can significantly multiply via lightning processes, and “protein folding” is able to evolve as higher life forms do, an electromotive force might also critically alter the optical discharges or “biophoton emissions” of DNA molecules. Researchers at the Joint Quantum Institute led by Ian Spielman have recently created “synthetic magnetic fields” using visible light. With the metal bending ability of Uri Geller, biophoton emissions evidently convey a charge on neutral atoms and create a synthetic magnetic field to which they respond –– even though no field is present.

On a warm, windy day, stand and shuffle your shoes briskly on an acrylic carpet –– then touch a metal object. You’ll hear, feel and may even see a spark. For reasons still unclear, certain individuals can store not only sparks, but also large amounts of electricity in their bodies, discharging it with consequences ranging from humorous to extremely dangerous. (“Supercharged People,” By Mark Hall, hubpages.com)

In 1988, British newspapers featured Pauline Shaw, 46, who claimed that her body was so full of electricity that her touch could damage household appliances. She was reported to have destroyed 25 irons, 18 toasters, 15 kettles, 6 tumble dryers, 10 washing machines, 12 television sets, 12 radios, 3 VCRs, and at least 250 light bulbs. She said that she once damaged her bank’s computer by leaning on the terminal. Doctors who examined Pauline theorized that hypersensitivity or stress might have somehow been responsible for her condition. She had destroyed every appliance in her house –– but her strong point was light bulbs. When she walked beneath one, it exploded.

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