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• Neurophilia! Not.
  Rory Roopnarine
  Published on: 2 April 2013
• Help!-I have a bad case of neurophilia
  Nitin K. Sethi
  Published on: 13 November 2012
• Familial Neurophilia - Is neurophilia hereditary?
  Sui H. Wong
  Published on: 13 November 2012

• Published on: 2 April 2013

  Neurophilia! Not.

  • Rory Roopnarine, Internist

  I really enjoyed Dr. Fuller's wonderful article on a likely emerging public and professional fascination with neurology. The bad news, however, is humankind's perpetual fascination with phobias; a fascination with 'death' being but one example. I'd perhaps say that neurology has joined some rather elite company.

  I would postulate that neurophobia, rather than neurophilia, drives the impetus to produce copious ar...

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  I really enjoyed Dr. Fuller's wonderful article on a likely emerging public and professional fascination with neurology. The bad news, however, is humankind's perpetual fascination with phobias; a fascination with 'death' being but one example. I'd perhaps say that neurology has joined some rather elite company.

  I would postulate that neurophobia, rather than neurophilia, drives the impetus to produce copious articles and books on neurology. I am still hopeful that all the books I have purchased on neurology will miraculously cure me of my phobia (notwithstanding the fact that reading neurology texts convinces me that I have alexia).

  Medscape's 2012 Physician Lifestyle Report by Dr. Carol Peckam has neurologists tied for first place as the most unhappy of campers. So, no cigar there either.

  I applaud Dr. Fuller again for the propaganda piece on neurology: I hope it works.

  Conflict of Interest:

  None declared

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  Conflict of Interest:
  None declared.

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• Published on: 13 November 2012

  Help!-I have a bad case of neurophilia

  • Nitin K. Sethi, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center

  Neurophilia can be loosely defined as the love of or fascination for neurology. Now you may think this is a new recently described exotic neurological syndrome but dwell into the ancient eastern Hindu and Buddhist philosophies and you shall quickly realize that the disorder is as ancient as these civilizations themselves 1. The workings of the brain and of the mind fascinated these first neurophilia inflicted philosopher...

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  Neurophilia can be loosely defined as the love of or fascination for neurology. Now you may think this is a new recently described exotic neurological syndrome but dwell into the ancient eastern Hindu and Buddhist philosophies and you shall quickly realize that the disorder is as ancient as these civilizations themselves 1. The workings of the brain and of the mind fascinated these first neurophilia inflicted philosophers and they spent an inordinate amount of time trying to decipher its secrets. Techniques to control the mind through meditation and introspection were described and perfected over the years. One can imagine these neurophiles wondering how this roughly 1400 gram lump of wrinkled tissue with no moving parts, no joints or valves could function as the motherboard for all other body systems as well as serve as the seat of the mind, thoughts, senses; in fact the very essence of the individual. As we slowly unlock the secrets of the living brain with the aid of sophisticated imaging techniques, the prevalence of neurophilia has increased exponentially. One would not be wrong to label it currently as a pandemic. Identification of this disorder is relatively easy.

  Five signs that you may have neurophilia (in no particular order of importance) 1. You cannot wait for the next book by Oliver Sacks or V.S Ramachandran to come out. 2. You think Dr. House should only concentrate on neurology cases henceforth (a variation of this sign was first described by Dr. Fuller) 3. You name your first and only child "Brain" 4. You identify a Queen Square reflex hammer , a tuning fork and a Wattenberg pin among your priciest possessions 5. You count diagnosing passers-by with Parkinson's disease by mere observation of their gait as one of your favorite pastimes.

  Once inflicted with neurophilia the "disease" course is highly variable. In some it merely manifests with a curiosity to know more about the workings of the brain, yet in others (like us neurologists, neurosurgeons and neuroscientists) it becomes a lifelong obsession to know everything about the brain both in disease as well as in health. My own passion for neurology was kindled at a young age by my neurophilia inflicted neurologist father. Little did I realize that exposure at a tender age would result in such a passion for the study of the brain. Yes it is true and I admit it proudly-I have a bad case of neurophilia. Watch out people it is contagious!

  References 1. Fuller GN. Neurophilia: a fascination for neurology--a new syndrome. Pract Neurol. 2012; 12:276-8.

  Conflict of Interest:

  None declared

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  Conflict of Interest:
  None declared.

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• Published on: 13 November 2012

  Familial Neurophilia - Is neurophilia hereditary?

  • Sui H. Wong, Dept of Neuro-ophthalmology

  I enjoyed Fuller's description of 'neurophilia' - we can finally label this condition afflicting neurologists, and recognise that is widespread within medicine and the general population.(1) Neurophilia is probably infectious (i.e. environmental); my personal experience and informal discussions with neurology colleagues revealed that many chose neurology as a career following positive experiences during their Senior Ho...

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  I enjoyed Fuller's description of 'neurophilia' - we can finally label this condition afflicting neurologists, and recognise that is widespread within medicine and the general population.(1) Neurophilia is probably infectious (i.e. environmental); my personal experience and informal discussions with neurology colleagues revealed that many chose neurology as a career following positive experiences during their Senior House Officer jobs. This emphasizes the suggestion that neurophobia can be dispelled and neurophilia encouraged through effective, inspirational teaching, accessible textbooks and journals.

  However, I would also like to highlight a potential genetic contribution. In the UK, I am aware of at least 6 neurological families - those families where more than one first degree relatives are neurologists. - many more than would be expected by chance. This does suggest that neurophilia may have genetic as well as environmental elements.

  Reference 1. Fuller GN. Neurophilia: a fascination for neurology--a new syndrome. Practical Neurology. 2012;12(5):276-8.

  Conflict of Interest:

  Dr Wong is a committed neurophile

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  Conflict of Interest:
  None declared.

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