Education on neuromuscular electrodiagnosis and neurological symptomatology

Abstract

Neurological symptomatology is a crucial component of neurological expertise. The committee for fostering board‐certified neurologists in the Japanese Society of Neurology (JSN) has hosted an educational activity for residents before the board examination, “The seminar for fostering board‐certified neurologists” since 2004. In particular, the autumn seminar has been characterized by small group hands‐on of neurological examinations and the evaluations of higher brain function. Besides this, hands‐on seminar of neurological examinations by regional branches has been promoted by the JSN. In the Kanto Ko‐shin‐etsu branch, “The first hands‐on seminar of neurological examinations” started in 2023 after a 3‐year‐suspension due to COVID‐19. The most important educational activities in neuromuscular electrodiagnosis (EDx) is the “Neuromuscular diagnostics seminar” hosted since 2004 by the Japanese Society of Clinical Neurophysiology (JSCN). The majority of tutors and participants are neurologists. This seminar is also characterized by small‐group, hands‐on workshops. We have also run the overseas seminar, “Tokyo Super EMG hands‐on,” since 2013. These have undoubtedly contributed to enhancing the level of neuromuscular electrodiagnosis not only in Japan but also in other Asian countries. I have conducted studies on neurological symptomatology and neuromuscular electrodiagnosis, which are directly linked to enhancing clinical practice of neurologists through educational activities such as review articles or lectures. Due to the fact that symptomatology is crucial in neurological expertise, neurology is a basic specialty around the world except in Japan. In 2018, the JSN decided to aim to make neurology a basic specialty and continues to make efforts to attain this goal.