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    Man develops acquired savant syndrome and starts seeing the world in mathematical fractals after a brutal 2002 mugging

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    28 Comments

    1. Icy-Drop-1308 on

      that’s wild, the brain can do some crazy stuff after trauma. the fractal vision must be a mind-blowing experience.

    2. Big-Boy-602 on

      ason Padgett, a regular futon salesman from Tacoma, Washington with no special math talent, was brutally mugged and suffered a severe concussion in 2002. After the traumatic brain injury, he developed acquired savant syndrome and synesthesia, suddenly seeing the world as intricate geometric fractals, mathematical patterns, and “choppy” motion. This unlocked an extraordinary obsession with mathematics and physics; he began creating detailed hand-drawn fractal art to represent his visions, was studied with fMRI scans showing heightened left parietal cortex activity, gave TEDx talks, and co wrote the memoir Struck by Genius. His case remains a famous example of how brain trauma can sometimes reveal hidden abilities amid the resulting PTSD and OCD.

    3. WhoisRajaBabuuu on

      Damn, so, you telling me to top in my Math class during school years, all my parents had to do was just BONK hard enough on my head.

    6. discardedbagel on

      Evidently his actually mathematic ability is not anything crazy. He tries to relate basic physical principles into meaning for his art, but his genius is much more artistic than it is raw math.

      His level of physics proficiency allegedly doesn’t exceed that of a college undergrad / gifted high schooler.

    7. Michael_Dautorio on

      I used to experience this while I was going through a period of meth induced psychosis.

    9. StuckInNY on

      He also managed to look better when he was older. The 80s haircut was not helping.

    10. Mexbookhill on

      I have no idea what this is supposed to mean and the pictures also dont help.

    12. Candytuffnz on

      I get pretty full on migraines. I can spot them starting cause I get a real urge to draw time (4th dimension). Not as cool as fractals, maybe I should try them the next time I feel a headache coming on.

    18. ACTMathGuru on

      I actually have one of his art pieces on my wall.

      As a math tutor, his work definitely speaks to me.

    19. Material_Release_897 on

      *Fifteen years after the attack, one of Padgett’s attackers, Brady Simmons, reached out and apologized to Padgett for the incident, which Padgett accepted*.

      In a weird way , this kinda reminds me of that movie with Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro, where they use this pill to unlock a part of the brain and become rich.

    22. NeverEndingCoralMaze on

      I got a head injury, and suddenly could actually draw, almost anything. Before, I couldn’t draw a scribble.

    26. Mr_Wankadolphinoff on

      Do you have to be mugged to acquire it or is there an easier way?

    27. PurpleZombi3 on

      The muggers beat sense into him?……. I’ll see myself out. Keep the fruit cake.

    28. Heybigdeal on

      Let me find someone to mug me and I’ll let you all know what super powers I get. Please hold

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