Savant Syndrome
Savant Syndrome: Different savants have different cognitive profiles that are due to different neurological abnormalities. Perhaps the most famous savant is Kim Peek, who is the subject of the documentary, The Real Rain Man ). Based on the information in this documentary, respond to the following three questions. 1. Describe Kims exceptional cognitive abilities, including specific examples from the video. (8 pts) 2. Describe Kims cognitive deficits, including specific examples from the video. (8 pts) 3. Discuss how Kims brain differs from the brains of individuals without this syndrome. (4 pts) False Memories of Abuse: Some individuals have come forth, claiming to have recalled a traumatic memory like being sexually abused by a parent that they apparently repressed from a long time ago, but in many of these cases, the only supporting evidence was their own testimony, and conflicting evidence actually cleared the accused. Based on the information in the documentary, False Memories ), respond to the following two questions. 4. Suggestion: First describe how therapists may unintentionally use the technique of suggestion to implant a false memory of childhood abuse, and then describe the methodology and findings from a research study in which Elizabeth Loftus used the technique of suggestion to implant false memories in her participants. (10 pts) 5. Guided imagination: First describe how therapists may unintentionally use the technique of guided imagination to implant a false memory of childhood abuse, and then describe the methodology and findings from a research study in which Elizabeth Loftus used the technique of guided imagination to implant false memories in her participants. (10 pts) False Eyewitness Testimony: Eyewitness testimony can be very powerful to juries, but we have learned that it can also be inaccurate. Based on the information in the documentary, Eyewitness (Part 1: and Part 2: , respond to the following two questions. 6. Describe how Jennifer Thompson came to misidentify Robert Cotton as the man who raped her and with such confidence that she failed to recognize Bobby Poole as the correct suspect. (10 pts) 7. Describe what police investigators may do to help minimize the likelihood of false eyewitness testimony. (10 pts)
