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DM Superspecialty · Book Guide

Books for DM Neurology.

What DM Neurology residents and departments actually read in 2026 — with journals, a year-wise reading plan, and the references you will need for your thesis and exit practical.

28Titles on the reference list
9Current-edition picks
3 yearsReading plan included

Sitting the DrNB instead? The same superspecialty is covered at DrNB Neurology books.

Reference reading list

The national reference list for Neurology

DM Neurology and DrNB Neurology cover the same superspecialty and the same exit-exam scope, so residents on both routes read the same texts. These 28 titles are the reading list the National Board of Examinations publishes for Neurology, reproduced exactly — spelling and abbreviations included. Use it as your scope anchor, then buy the current edition of the titles you actually need from the next section.

  1. DeJong's The Neurological Examination, 7th Edition. Stephanie Lessig, MD edited by William Campbell, 671 pp., illus., Philadelphia, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins,
  2. Localization in Clinical Neurology By Brazis, Paul W, Masdeu, Joseph C. , Biller, Jose ; 7th edition 2006.Lippincot and Williams
  3. Principles of Neuroscience: Kandal and Schwartz 5th edition
  4. Applied neuroanatomy: Carpenter, 9th Edition
  5. Aminoff,s electrodiagnosis in Clinical neurology: Aminoff M, 6th edition
  6. Evoked potentials. Chiappa.
  7. Molecular Neuropharmacology: Seigal. 3rd edition
  8. The Mental Status Exam. in Neurology. Strub abd Black 4th edition
  9. Examination of a comatose patient: Plum and Posner 3rd edition
  10. Handbook of Neurology; Vinken and Bruyn.
  11. Tropical Neurology. JS Chopra 2nd edition
  12. Tropical Neurology: NH Wadia
  13. Neurology in Clinical Practice. 2 volumes; 7th edition, 2016 by Bradley, Gerald M. Fenichel, Robert B. Daroff, Joseph Jankovic
  14. Diseases of the Nervous System: Clinical Neuroscience and Therapeutic Principles (diseases of the nervous system (Asbury). 2002
  15. Adams & Victor's Principles of Neurology, 10th Edition Allan H. Ropper, Martin A. Samuels
  16. Aminoff's Neurology and General Medicine, 5th Edition
  17. Epilepsy: A Comprehensive Textbook 3 Volumes; Editors 2nd edition. Jerome Engel Jr., MD, PhD, Timothy A. Pedley MD
  18. Epilepsy and Epileptic syndrome. Hans luder.
  19. Electroencephalography. Niedermeyer. 6th Ed. 2011.
  20. Parkinson's disease and movement disorders. By Joseph Jankovic, Eduardo Tolosa. 5th edition
  21. Stanley Fahn, C. David Marsden, Donald Brian Calne EditorsStanley Fahn, C. David Marsden, Donald Brian Calne; Publisher Raven Press, 1988
  22. Clinical Pediatric Neurology, 7th Edition - A Signs and Symptoms Approach: Expert Consult - By Gerald Fenichel
  23. Padiatric Neurology. Swaiman & Wright
  24. Caplan's Stroke: A Clinical Approach; 5th edition by Louis Caplan
  25. Stroke: A practical management: by Charles Warlow, Jan Van Gijn, Joanna M. Wardlaw, Martin S. Dennis. 2008, 3rd edition
  26. Sleep Disorders Medicine: Basic Science, Technical Considerations, and Clinical Aspects Edited by Sudhansu Chokroverty. 504 pp. Boston, Butterworth-Heinemann, 1994. Edition 3, 2009.
  27. Continuum in Neurology. (American Academy of Neurology)
  28. Adams & Victor's Principles of Neurology - Allan H. Ropper, Martin A. Samuels. 10th Edition McGraw Hill, 2014.

Source: National Board of Examinations curriculum document for Neurology

What residents actually use

Current editions, and what each one is for

The books most residents actually buy. These are the editions in circulation now, with a note on whether each is something you read through, keep as a reference, or open only for the viva.

  1. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical PracticeJankovic, Mazziotta, Pomeroy, Newman (eds) · 8th edition · core referenceThe main comprehensive text used across Indian DM Neurology programmes.
  2. Adams and Victor's Principles of NeurologyRopper, Samuels, Klein, Prasad · 12th edition · core referencePreferred for syndromic reasoning and localisation; heavily quoted in theory answers.
  3. DeJong's The Neurologic ExaminationCampbell, Barohn · 8th edition · clinical examinationThe reference standard for bedside technique and eliciting signs in the long case.
  4. Localization in Clinical NeurologyBrazis, Masdeu, Biller · 8th edition · localisationCompact text that maps signs to lesions — the backbone of short-case performance.
  5. Merritt's NeurologyLouis, Mayer, Noble (eds) · 14th edition · rapid referenceConcise disease-by-disease revision text for the final year.
  6. Osborn's Brain: Imaging, Pathology, and AnatomyOsborn, Hedlund, Salzman · 3rd edition · neuroimagingStandard neuroimaging reference for the MRI/CT viva station.
  7. Electromyography and Neuromuscular DisordersPreston, Shapiro · 4th edition · electrodiagnosisThe practical NCS/EMG text every Indian neurology resident works through before the EMG station.
  8. Niedermeyer's ElectroencephalographySchomer, Lopes da Silva (eds) · 7th edition · electrophysiologyReference depth for EEG; often supplemented by Atlas of EEG in Critical Care for ICU tracings.
  9. Continuum: Lifelong Learning in Neurology (AAN)American Academy of Neurology · update seriesIssue-based updates widely used in India for recent-advances papers and journal club.
Reading plan

What to read, and when

Three years of superspecialty training goes faster than it sounds, and most of it is spent on the floor. The order below is what works for most DM Neurology residents.

Year 1

Build the base

Master the examination and localisation first — DeJong's and Brazis daily on the wards, Adams and Victor read cover to cover across the year. Begin EEG and NCS/EMG exposure and finalise the thesis protocol.

Year 2

Go deep, collect thesis data

Move to depth and subspecialty rotations: Bradley and Daroff by system, Preston & Shapiro and Niedermeyer worked through with actual studies, Osborn for imaging. Read Continuum issues as they appear; collect thesis data.

Year 3

Revise, drill, submit

Revise with Merritt's for breadth, do a second pass of Adams and Victor, drill imaging/EEG/EMG stations and long cases weekly. Guideline and recent-advances reading for the fourth paper; submit the thesis.

Thesis

References for your thesis

Protocol, methodology and reporting standards examiners expect you to have followed.

  • Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology and Neurology India — Indian cohort and prevalence data
  • Brain, Neurology, Lancet Neurology, JAMA Neurology — landmark and mechanistic references
  • ICMR National Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical and Health Research Involving Human Participants (2017)
  • STROBE / CONSORT / STARD reporting checklists depending on design
  • Validated Indian-language adaptations of scales (mRS, NIHSS, MoCA, UPDRS) for outcome measurement
Practical & viva

What the practical actually tests

Cases, spotters and stations that come up again and again in the exit exam.

  • Long case: full neurological history plus examination with localisation, differential and investigation plan
  • Short cases: cranial nerve, higher mental function, gait, movement disorder, neuromuscular and spinal cord cases
  • Neuroimaging station: MRI/CT/MRA/DSA interpretation
  • EEG station: epileptiform patterns, status epilepticus, encephalopathy
  • NCS/EMG station: demyelinating versus axonal, myopathic versus neurogenic patterns, repetitive stimulation
  • CSF, muscle and nerve biopsy, and neuropathology slide viva
  • Table viva on drugs, thrombolysis and thrombectomy protocols, immunotherapy and antiseizure medication
About the course

DM Neurology in context

DM Neurology is a three-year course after MD/DNB in General Medicine or Paediatrics. The NMC exit examination consists of four theory papers of 100 marks each together with a clinical, practical and viva voce examination, and thesis acceptance is required before a candidate may appear. In practice the practical spans one long case, two to three short cases and separate structured stations for neuroimaging, EEG and nerve conduction/EMG.

Frequently asked

DM Neurology books — questions

Which books should I read for DM Neurology?

The titles on this page are the ones residents and departments actually use, each with the edition in circulation now. Start with the first one listed and add the references as your reading deepens.

Which single book should I start with in DM Neurology?

Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice by Jankovic, Mazziotta, Pomeroy, Newman (eds) is the usual anchor. The main comprehensive text used across Indian DM Neurology programmes.

How is DM Neurology different from the DNB or MD version?

DM Neurology is a superspecialty course taken after a broad-specialty MD, MS or DNB, so the reading is narrower and deeper. The broad-specialty texts are assumed knowledge by the time you start.

Do I need to buy every book listed?

No. Most residents own two or three and use the department or library copy for the rest. That is exactly why printing selected chapters from a PDF works out cheaper than buying volumes you will open twice.

Can you print these books for me?

We print from the PDF you send us. Send the file on WhatsApp with your page count and whether you want colour, black and white or mixed, and we print, bind and deliver anywhere in India. We do not supply copyrighted book files.

How much does printing cost?

Black and white is 50 paise a page, colour is Rs 1 a page, and binding is Rs 40 per bound volume. A 400-page mixed set with binding usually works out around Rs 300 plus delivery.

Printing your DM Neurology reading?

Send the PDF on WhatsApp — colour Rs 1/page, B&W 50p/page, binding Rs 40. Printed, bound and delivered anywhere in India.

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