Vintage Brainstorm: Detective Stories From the World of Neurology

Among other, the book is fine by first showing drawings of the brain, and then throughout history, since Hippocrates, telling about how there then was speculating about epileptic seizures, and the increasing knowledge in understanding it.In some of the cases, we are told where the actual epilepsy seizure points are found to be positioned in the brains. And in one of these cases, we then are told that the patient couldn’t be cured by surgery, as these small parts of the brain were placed at risky positions!Especially by reading about this case, I was wondering why we in the book not are getting any words about using the Neurofeedback method? Among other, especially after reading the book written by Stephan Larsen, PhD., “The Healing Power of Neurofeedback”, clearly I found the just mentioned case to be number one for use of the Neurofeedback method.In connection to one of the cases, we as a remark read how stress, for one person, increased his seizures. But stress is much more important, than there told, I have even seen stated by a doctor that for his patients, 95% of their seizure was started/caused by stress. It is only 40 years since I bought the first book about stress, and to my doctors, I hold on that my seizures (own 38 seizure books, among the around the 600 doctor and health books) are caused by stress. Because, now 45 years ago I had a head accident, very equal to one of the cases in the book, and after this not allowed to live alone for 3 months. After this then back to work and educations. 1 year later, I then had the first seizure, but no more for 28 ears. Then now 16 years ago, I there in Thailand, went to a psychiatric doctor, never seen before, and told him that I was afraid that stress (caused by my wife) would result in seizure. He clearly rejected such a possibility. But then, ¾ of a year later came the first seizure, and the doctor immediately said “epilepsy”. And it continued with seizures, for which I often clearly can see the stress connection, for example, only a quarter of an hour after thr stress case, but the doctors out here still don’t accept stress as a reason for anything.Partially equal to this just written, we in the book read about a woman, for whom it turned out that that it for her was faint.Last in the book, in the connection to a woman who was hit by seizures when she was standing upright, and especially without a stable foundation, while then the problem, the seizure, totally disappeared when laying down. And we then are told about reflex epilepsy cases, with the “musicogenic epilepsy” and “thinking epilepsy”, being mentioned. Besides, these, among other, we also are activated with either too worm or too cold temperature, drinking too little or too much water, drinking too much coffee, a special smelling of something, too fast breathing, and so on. And the higher the IQ the more sensitive. I like coffee, and water, but now try to follow “the law” against seizure, by only getting the allowed amount of coffee and water. Furthermore, we also have to breathe correctly, with 4 times in a minute, that is 4 times 8 second for air in and 7 second for air out.All together it is an interesting book in which I will be rereading many times, even though I would have liked it to be a bit more compressed

A fascinating read. Highly readable and beautifully explained.

Dr Suzanne O'Sullivan, the author is a consultant neurologist and specialises in epileptic disorders. The book itself is an easy read. Although it contains medical terms, it is not so jargonised as to turn off a reader. There is a look at a dozen case studies and, as the title suggest it shows how much of a medical detective a neurologist has to be. Answer don't always come easily. Whilst we know a lot about brain function the author emphasises that there is an awful lot more that we don't know.As she quotes "The brain is a world consisting of a number of unexplained continents and great stretches of unknown territory" Santiago Ramon y Cajal (1852-1934), pathologist and neuroanatomist

Interesting case studies about seizures. Goes into brain function but in an understandable manner. Not too technical ok for layman.

This is a terrific book: I couldn't put it down. I have more than a passing interest in epilepsy because my son has attended for many years the wonderful hospital where the author works. The book relates a number of case histories in a manner that's fascinating, informative, sensitive and often moving, and it highlights the difficulties that face people with epilepsy in their everyday lives. Most people think of this neurological condition only in terms of convulsive seizures, but as the book shows, it can present in a multitude of different ways with sometimes quite bizarre symptoms. Highly recommended ... I will go on to read the author's other book, It's All in Your Head.