One of the most common brain disorders is one of the most misunderstood – how functional neurological disorder is both ‘all in your head’ and beyond it

the gist

Functional neurological disorder, or FND, is a real condition where the brain's software, not its structure, is disrupted. People may be unable to walk, may have tremors or seizures, yet their scans and EEGs look normal. It has had many names, including hysteria, conversion disorder and psychosomatic illness, and patients have often been told it is 'all in your head' and sent away. Modern neuroscience shows the problem is in how the brain's networks send and receive signals, and it is one of the most common reasons for visiting a neurologist. Treatment includes physiotherapy, psychological therapy and education, and understanding the diagnosis is a large part of recovery.

so what

Being believed matters: patients get better when they are taught what the condition is, and better treatment depends on dropping the stigma.

fun fact

The condition affects millions of people, and is often misdiagnosed as epilepsy.

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background

Functional neurological symptom disorder (FNSD), also referred to as dissociative neurological symptom disorder (DNSD), is a condition in which patients experience neurological symptoms such as weakness, movement problems, sensory symptoms, and convulsions. As a functional disorder, there is, by definition, no known disease process affecting the structure of the body, yet the person experiences symptoms relating to their body function. Symptoms of functional neurological disorders are clinically recognizable, but are not categorically associated with a definable organic disease.

The intended contrast is with an organic brain syndrome, in which a pathology (disease process) affecting the body's physiology can be identified. The diagnosis is made based on positive signs and symptoms noted in the history and on examination during the consultation with a neurologist.

From Wikipedia: Functional neurological symptom disorder (CC BY-SA 4.0) ↗ · text CC BY-SA 4.0

see

Liang F, Xu Q, Jiang M, Feng R, Jiang S, Yuan B, Xu S, Wu T…, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Internet Archive Book Images, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons

DoD News, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Illustrative photo · F. Liang et al., CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

source: The Conversation ↗

politics

Trump and Netanyahu reportedly clash over whether to resume military action against Iran

the gist

Israeli reports also say the cabinet directed the military to prepare for a possible new attack on Iran.

so what

The United States and Israel have been closely aligned on Iran's nuclear programme and regional threats, so open disagreement between their leaders over military strategy is unusual and closely watched. Whether to resume strikes is a decision with consequences for shipping, oil markets and the wider Middle East.

fun fact

Benjamin Netanyahu has served as Prime Minister of Israel for more years in total than any other person.

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Data: GDELT Project

Illustrative photo · Israel Belkind and Fanny Abramovitch (original) “The Provis…, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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supplementary video · Epimetheus on YouTube ↗

world cultures & travelWikivoyageclassic9th–15th century · Siem Reap, Cambodia

Angkor was the largest pre-industrial city on Earth, covering about 3,000 square kilometres

the gist

Angkor, near Siem Reap in northern Cambodia, was the capital of the Khmer Empire, which ruled much of mainland Southeast Asia between roughly the 9th and 15th centuries. At its height the city spread across about 3,000 square kilometres, making it the largest pre-industrial city on Earth by area. Its growth depended on water: huge reservoirs called barays, along with canals and embankments, stored monsoon rain and carried it to rice fields. That system let farmers harvest more than once a year and fed a very large population through the dry season. The temple complex of Angkor Wat, built in the early 12th century, is the best-known monument and still stands at the heart of the park.

how it works

The Khmer kings built enormous rectangular reservoirs that caught monsoon rain during the wet season. Earthen dykes and canals moved that water into rice paddies, so farmers could grow crops across much of the year. The surplus food supported craftsmen, builders and the workforce that raised the temples.

so what

Angkor shows how a society without industrial machinery could build a city on a scale that rivals modern metropolises, using engineering and water management instead. Some historians link its decline to drought, flooding and shifts in its water systems, which makes it a long-running case study in how cities depend on managing water. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important archaeological landscapes in Southeast Asia.

fun fact

The outline of Angkor Wat appears on the national flag of Cambodia.