It isn't every day that a news story can literally restore your faith in the human spirit and make you realize the sheer brilliance and extraordinary mysteries which are contained in the human mind. That's the way we felt after viewing 60 Minutes' piece on British musical savant Derek Paravicini which aired this past Sunday.
Though autism is thought to be the source of Derek's extraordinary musical ability, his blindness may contribute. Because Derek is blind, the part of his brain that would normally be used for sight and light detection could be used for extra auditory ability. Derek is able – with a great deal of precision and accuracy – to detect and recognise not just one but multiple notes played at once (so far he can distinguish over 20 notes). Watch the complete 60 Minutes documentary.
Derek's story will make your day, we promise.