Chapter 1. An Amazing Memory

Short Description

Daniel is a 27-year-old math and memory wizard. Give him any date in history and he can tell you the day of the week on which it occurred. Give him a complex multiplication problem and he immediately provides the correct answer. Daniel is a savant who is articulate and self-sufficient.

Long Description

Shown a long numerical sequence only once, he can correctly recite it both backward and forward. Daniel first made headlines at Oxford University when he correctly recited 22,514 digits of pi. It took him over five hours but he performed the feat without a single mistake. Researcher V.S. Ramachandran is amazed at Daniel's intelligence, his ability to interact socially, and perhaps most importantly his capacity to introspect on his unique ability. Daniel's description of how his own mind works could prove invaluable to scientists. Ramachandran believes that a savant's unique ability may actually result from brain injury. Indeed, at the age of four, Daniel suffered a massive epileptic seizure. He developed a rare crossing of senses known as synesthesia. He began to see numbers as shapes, colors, and textures. Thus, a sequence of numbers now forms a landscape in his mind. Some numbers, he claims, are beautiful while others are ugly. At an early age, Daniel was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, a mild form of autism. Social relations became difficult and Daniel retreated into the safety of numbers. However, he did become a social isolate. He believes his large family may have fostered his ability to adapt. Today, he runs a successful online business. Still, social anxiety keeps him close to home. Ramachandran believes that Daniel may provide important insights into the working of the human brain. Although Daniel refuses to become what he calls a “performing seal” who makes money from his unique ability, he has written a book about his experiences. Ultimately, he hopes that he can share with others the beauty and joy of numbers.

Questions