Ludwig Bruns
Encyclopedia
Ludwig Bruns was a German neurologist
who was a native of Hanover
. He studied medicine in Göttingen
and Munich
, receiving his doctorate in 1882. Subsequently, he was an assistant to Eduard Hitzig
(1839-1907) at the insane asylum in Nietleben as well as at the psychiatric and nerve clinic in Halle
. Afterwards he worked with Karl Westphal (1833-1890) and Hermann Oppenheim
(1858-1919) at the Charité
Hospital in Berlin
. Bruns would maintain a working relationship with Oppenheim throughout his professional career. He also studied in Paris
(under Jean Charcot) and England, later returning to his hometown of Hanover where in 1903 he became a professor of neurology
. Bruns was the first director of the German Society of Neurologists.
Bruns was interested in all aspects of neurology; however he is best-known for his work in child neurology and neuropsychology
. In 1906 he published Die Hysterie im Kindesalter (Hysteria in Childhood), in which he explains that abnormal behaviour in children is due to internal conflicts, and is largely caused by overbearing parents who favor harsh punishment. His most significant work was Handbuch der Nervenkrankheiten im Kindesalter (Handbook of Nervous Diseases of Childhood), which he co-authored with August Cramer
(1860-1912) and Theodor Ziehen
(1862-1950). In addition he published an important treatise on localization of tumor
s titled Die Geschwultse des Nervensystem (Tumors of the Nervous System).
Associated epoyms:
Neurologist
A neurologist is a physician who specializes in neurology, and is trained to investigate, or diagnose and treat neurological disorders.Neurology is the medical specialty related to the human nervous system. The nervous system encompasses the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. A specialist...
who was a native of Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
. He studied medicine in Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
and Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, receiving his doctorate in 1882. Subsequently, he was an assistant to Eduard Hitzig
Eduard Hitzig
Eduard Hitzig was a German neurologist and neuropsychiatrist born in Berlin.He studied medicine at the Universities of Berlin and Würzburg, and had as instructors, famous men such as Emil Du Bois-Reymond , Rudolf Virchow , Moritz Heinrich Romberg and Karl Friedrich Otto Westphal...
(1839-1907) at the insane asylum in Nietleben as well as at the psychiatric and nerve clinic in Halle
Halle, Saxony-Anhalt
Halle is the largest city in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is also called Halle an der Saale in order to distinguish it from the town of Halle in North Rhine-Westphalia...
. Afterwards he worked with Karl Westphal (1833-1890) and Hermann Oppenheim
Hermann Oppenheim
Hermann Oppenheim was one of the leading neurologists in Germany. He studied medicine at the Universities of Berlin, Göttingen and Bonn. He started his career at the Charité-Hospital in Berlin as an assistant of Karl Westphal...
(1858-1919) at the Charité
Charité
The Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin is the medical school for both the Humboldt University and the Free University of Berlin. After the merger with their fourth campus in 2003, the Charité is one of the largest university hospitals in Europe....
Hospital in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. Bruns would maintain a working relationship with Oppenheim throughout his professional career. He also studied in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
(under Jean Charcot) and England, later returning to his hometown of Hanover where in 1903 he became a professor of neurology
Neurology
Neurology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Specifically, it deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease involving the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and all effector tissue,...
. Bruns was the first director of the German Society of Neurologists.
Bruns was interested in all aspects of neurology; however he is best-known for his work in child neurology and neuropsychology
Neuropsychology
Neuropsychology studies the structure and function of the brain related to specific psychological processes and behaviors. The term neuropsychology has been applied to lesion studies in humans and animals. It has also been applied to efforts to record electrical activity from individual cells in...
. In 1906 he published Die Hysterie im Kindesalter (Hysteria in Childhood), in which he explains that abnormal behaviour in children is due to internal conflicts, and is largely caused by overbearing parents who favor harsh punishment. His most significant work was Handbuch der Nervenkrankheiten im Kindesalter (Handbook of Nervous Diseases of Childhood), which he co-authored with August Cramer
August Cramer
August Cramer was a Swiss-German neuropathologist and psychiatrist who was a native of the canton St. Gallen.He studied medicine in Marburg and Freiburg, earning his medical doctorate in 1887...
(1860-1912) and Theodor Ziehen
Theodor Ziehen
Georg Theodor Ziehen was a German neurologist and psychiatrist born in Frankfurt am Main. He was the son of noted author, Eduard Ziehen ....
(1862-1950). In addition he published an important treatise on localization of tumor
Tumor
A tumor or tumour is commonly used as a synonym for a neoplasm that appears enlarged in size. Tumor is not synonymous with cancer...
s titled Die Geschwultse des Nervensystem (Tumors of the Nervous System).
Associated epoyms:
- Bruns ataxiaBruns ataxiaBruns ataxia, also known as Bruns gait apraxia, frontal ataxia or magnetic gait, is a form of ataxia found in patients with bilateral frontal lobe disorders. It is characterised by an inability to initiate the process of walking, despite the power and coordination of the legs being normal when...
: Difficulty in moving the feet when they are in contact with the ground and a tendency to fall backwards, associated with frontal lobeFrontal lobeThe frontal lobe is an area in the brain of humans and other mammals, located at the front of each cerebral hemisphere and positioned anterior to the parietal lobe and superior and anterior to the temporal lobes...
lesions. - Bruns’ syndrome: Characterized by sudden and severe headacheHeadacheA headache or cephalalgia is pain anywhere in the region of the head or neck. It can be a symptom of a number of different conditions of the head and neck. The brain tissue itself is not sensitive to pain because it lacks pain receptors. Rather, the pain is caused by disturbance of the...
, accompanied by vomiting and vertigoVertigo (medical)Vertigo is a type of dizziness, where there is a feeling of motion when one is stationary. The symptoms are due to a dysfunction of the vestibular system in the inner ear...
, triggered by abrupt movement of the head. Principal causes are cystCystA cyst is a closed sac, having a distinct membrane and division on the nearby tissue. It may contain air, fluids, or semi-solid material. A collection of pus is called an abscess, not a cyst. Once formed, a cyst could go away on its own or may have to be removed through surgery.- Locations :* Acne...
s and cysticerosis of the fourth ventricleFourth ventricleThe fourth ventricle is one of the four connected fluid-filled cavities within the human brain. These cavities, known collectively as the ventricular system, consist of the left and right lateral ventricles, the third ventricle, and the fourth ventricle...
, and tumours of the midline of the cerebellumCerebellumThe cerebellum is a region of the brain that plays an important role in motor control. It may also be involved in some cognitive functions such as attention and language, and in regulating fear and pleasure responses, but its movement-related functions are the most solidly established...
and third ventricleThird ventricleThe third ventricle is one of four connected fluid-filled cavities comprising the ventricular system within the human brain. It is a median cleft between the two thalami, and is filled with cerebrospinal fluid ....
. - Bastian-Bruns lawBastian-Bruns signThe Bastian-Bruns sign, or Bastian-Bruns law, is the loss of tone and deep tendon reflexes in the lower limbs in the presence of complete transection of the spinal cord above the level of the lumbar enlargement....
: In complete transverse lesionLesionA lesion is any abnormality in the tissue of an organism , usually caused by disease or trauma. Lesion is derived from the Latin word laesio which means injury.- Types :...
in the upper spinal cordSpinal cordThe spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular bundle of nervous tissue and support cells that extends from the brain . The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system...
, the tendonTendonA tendon is a tough band of fibrous connective tissue that usually connects muscle to bone and is capable of withstanding tension. Tendons are similar to ligaments and fasciae as they are all made of collagen except that ligaments join one bone to another bone, and fasciae connect muscles to other...
reflexes and muscular tone below the level of the lesion are lost. Named with neurologist Henry Charlton BastianHenry Charlton BastianHenry Charlton Bastian was an English physiologist and neurologist. Fellow of Royal Society in 1868.Bastian graduated in 1861 at the University of London....
(1837-1915). - Bruns nystagmusBruns nystagmusBruns nystagmus is an unusual type of bilateral nystagmus most commonly occurring in patients with cerebellopontine angle tumours. It is caused by the combination of slow, large amplitude nystagmus when looking towards the side of the lesion, and rapid, small amplitude nystagmus when looking away...
: Bilateral mystagmus found in patients with vestibular schwannoma.