Thinking like Sherlock Holmes

Today, the deductive method of detective Sherlock Holmes, a fictional character of Conan Doyle, is still being studied by neuroscientists.

According to the BBC, shortly after Andrew John Lees embarked on a medical career at London Hospital University, one of his superiors gave him a rather strange reading list. Instead of ancient anatomy books, it included a full set of Sherlock Holmes.

What can a fictional detective teach for a neurologist? According to Lees, whatever your expertise is, you can get the first lesson on rational thinking.

Lees points out, Holmes's author is Conan Doyle, himself a doctor, and there is evidence that he created this character based on one of the leading doctors of the time, Joseph Bell of the hospital. Royal Edinburgh.

Detective statue of Sherlock Holmes.(Photo: Alamy).

"I think I will write a story about a hero who deals with crime like the way Bell deals with disease," Doyle said in an interview in 1927.

Pay attention to details

However, Lees also suspected that when developing his stories, Doyle might also use inspiration from some other doctors, such as William Gowers, who wrote "A Guide to Nervous Diseases". , considered the "Bible of Neurology" - the biblical scriptural neurology.

Gower often teaches his students to start diagnosis right from the moment the patient steps into the clinic, as noted in his clinical explanations.

"Did you notice right from the moment he entered the room? Otherwise, I recommend you do so. One of the necessary and not missed habits is to observe the patient as soon as they enter, uncle. You look at your appearance and gait. You can recognize the patient limping and some unusual nuances of the face. "

This is quite similar to Holmes' habit of observing and reasoning with every person this detective meets. Specifically, for both of them, they pay attention to things that seem unimportant.

"It has long been my truth, small things are extremely important things , " Doyle wrote.

Professor Andrew John Lees.(Photo: Wikipedia).

Even Gowers Holmes warned that his prejudices should not be misleading. For them, need to be calm and objective. This is the reason why Holmes criticized Watson's partner in the "Scandal of Bohemia" case: "You are looking, not observing. The difference is very clear."

Or say Gowers style: "The method that should be applied is, when encountering an unfamiliar case, it should be handled in the right way for the first time, forgetting all the previous experiences, considering it as a new, separate issue, for investigation ".

Take, for example, a case in which Gowers applies this method in real life to study a patient who is misdiagnosed with symptoms of psychological disorders similar to dissociated disorder (hysteria):

"I happened to see his affidavit writing the painter's career. From there I observed the gums and saw signs of the characteristic effects of his career influences." Thus, simply using the eyes to observe the signs that others overlooked, Gowers deduced that the patient was poisoned by the dye used daily in his work.

There are many other examples, such as how both use the "backwards" approach. In the case of Gowers is dissecting all possible ways that lead to a specific disease, and Holmes is the murder. This method can be summarized in Holmes' famous quote "When you have eliminated all possibilities that cannot happen, whatever is left, though unreasonable, must be true".

But perhaps the most important lesson from Gowers and Holmes, is the value of recognizing mistakes.

Conan Doyle novelist.(Photo: BBC).

"Gentlemen, we will always feel comfortable doing the right thing, but in general a wrong thing will be much more useful , " Gowers wrote. Holmes once said: "I confess that I was blind like a mole, but realized it was more late than not."

This humility is the key for them to overcome the "expert curse" that has attacked many talented and intelligent people. Over the past few years, cognitive neurologist Itiel Dror of University College London has recorded many cases in which experts in both the field of medicine and forensic science have influenced prejudices. to their judgment, in both situations one takes one.

Whatever the exact nature of Gowers 'influence on Doyle, Holmes' lessons today are very supportive of logical reasoning. Even the most advanced technologies never replace the power of simple observation and rational elimination. As Lees said, hospitals "are still a crime scene" - and we still need the best minds to solve those mysteries. Lees also points out, if you want to practice the deductive method, read Sherlock Holmes over and over again.