Anybody got any anecdotal experience with someone being in a coma or some traumatic experience and

[raccoon]

as a result, having some abilities people don't usually have, such as Johnny Smith in
THE DEAD ZONE?

[LeftishBrit]

1. No, but there are reported cases of people suffering brain damage, and then demonstrating unusual

talent in an area like art or maths. It's been suggested that another area of the brain may not just compensate but overcompensate for the damaged area and/or that damage to some areas of the brain (especially frontal areas) might reduce inhibitions on certain forms of creativity. It may, however, simply reduce social inhibitions on demonstrating a talent that already exists; or may increase obsessionality, which in some cases may lead to high development of a talent.

However, such cases are extremely rare - probably even rarer than the 'savant' talents very occasionally shown by some people with congenital intellectual impairments.