By Fabiano
An article has just been published that could change how we view profound genius and neurodivergence. Published today in the Open Minds International Journal, the work of neuroscientist Fabiano de Abreu Agrela Rodrigues proposes the concept of Compensated Structural Savantism (CSS) — a bold idea that inverts the traditional narrative about savantism.
Instead of seeing the classic savant as a case of “islands of genius” amidst serious limitations, Rodrigues suggests that it is merely a decompensated version of the same neurobiological substrate. CSS would be the “perfect balance”: the same powerful hardware — obsessive hyperfocus, massive memory, extreme sensory sensitivity, and genetics linked to the autism spectrum — but piloted by an elite executive function that transforms rigidity into strategic vision.
The author uses clear metaphors: the classic savant is like a Ferrari engine without a steering wheel; the individual with CSS has the same engine, but with a navigation system that makes it functional and productive. Practical examples illustrate this: a child analyzing fungal networks on a tree during recess, or an adult predicting corporate crises years in advance, not out of pessimism, but through the inevitable reading of patterns.
Based on genetic data (PRS, PGS Catalog), Wechsler tests, and analyses of high-IQ societies (Mensa, Triple Nine), the study suggests that profound giftedness (IQ >145) often depends on this compensated neurodivergent base. It is not genius “despite” autism, but “thanks” to it, when well regulated.
This view resonates with those who experience high-functioning neurodiversity: the “agony of logical incoherence,” dopamine only in complex challenges, strategic isolation. It is an invitation to rethink stigmas and value brain variations as evolutionary strategies.
The article is available for free: (https://openmindsjournal.com/index.php/openminds/pt_BR/article/view/438). It’s worth reading — especially for those who feel they think “differently” and want to understand why.
