Jason Padgett

When Jason Padgett was attacked by muggers outside a karaoke club, he suffered severe brain trauma that unexpectedly led him to develop a unique mathematical gift. Today, Padgett is not only an aspiring number theorist and mathematician with acquired savant syndrome and synesthesia, but he has also authored the memoir "Struck by Genius: How a Brain Injury Made Me a Mathematical Marvel," detailing his profound transformation.

Following the incident in 2004, Padgett experienced PTSD, OCD, and debilitating agoraphobia. Concurrently, he began perceiving the world through a new lens: water flowing from a tap formed crystalline patterns, and tree branches swayed to reveal intricate fractal patterns, showing the hidden mathematical structures in everyday objects. This new perspective also unlocked a remarkable artistic talent in Padgett, who began to draw complex geometrical shapes, even without formal training to understand the mathematical concepts they represented.

Encouraged by a physicist who noticed his drawings in a mall food court, Padgett returned to school to further his understanding of mathematics. His unique abilities have since drawn the interest of neuroscientists, including Berit Brogaard, a philosophy professor at the University of Miami. Researchers have employed techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to study Padgett's brain, hoping to uncover more about his extraordinary cognitive transformation. Currently, Padgett not only continues his mathematical studies, but his journey and ongoing research into his brain functions continue to be a point of fascination for the scientific community.

As a speaker, Padgett shares his compelling story from an ordinary individual to a figure of medical and mathematical interest, offering an inspiring narrative of resilience and unexpected potential following his life-altering trauma.