How is calendar calculation in autism possible? A language model.

Abstract

Detailed case studies of individuals with brain injuries have long provided valuable insights into how cognitive functions are organized. Similarly, the study of individuals with highly idiosyncratic cognitive abilities can shed light on the outer limits of human cognition. One such phenomenon is calendar calculation (CC), the ability to identify the day of the week that corresponds to a given date or the dates that match a particular calendar configuration. CC is the most commonly reported "special ability" in autism and is unique in its accuracy and speed, often surpassing experienced mathematicians. Recent findings suggest that a significant proportion of autistic children with oral language delays first acquire and prefer the written code, which may help pave the way for oral language acquisition. This atypical pathway for language acquisition invites a rethinking of the mechanisms underlying CC. In this article, we propose an integrative model in which the development and mastery of CC in autism are driven by the orientation of the innate linguistic cognitive resources toward an equivalent complex symbolic system. This model offers a novel perspective on the language trajectories observed in autism, their role in facilitating expertise in nonsocial complex material, and the broader flexibility of human language-based abilities. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).