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DrNB Superspecialty · Book Guide

Books for DrNB Neurology.

The NBE curriculum list, reproduced exactly, plus the editions residents 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 NBE list
9Current-edition picks
17Journals listed
3 yearsReading plan included

Doing the DM instead? The same superspecialty is covered at DM Neurology books.

Official list

Books the NBE curriculum lists for DrNB Neurology

These 28 titles are reproduced as they appear in the National Board of Examinations curriculum document for Neurology — spelling and abbreviations included. Treat it as the scope anchor, not as a shopping list.

  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.
Read this before you buy. Curriculum documents are revised infrequently, so several entries name editions that are now years out of date and a few titles are out of print. Use the list to understand what you are expected to have covered, then buy the current edition from the next section.

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 · 8th edition · core referenceThe main two-volume reference most Indian neurology residents build their reading around.
  2. Adams and Victor's Principles of NeurologyRopper, Samuels, Klein, Prasad · 12th edition · core reading textBest single-volume narrative text; excellent for writing structured theory answers.
  3. DeJong's The Neurologic ExaminationWilliam W. Campbell · 8th edition · clinical examinationThe reference for examination technique and eliciting signs in the long case.
  4. Localization in Clinical NeurologyBrazis, Masdeu, Biller · 8th edition · localisation skillsIndispensable for the localisation reasoning every DrNB viva demands.
  5. Aminoff's Electrodiagnosis in Clinical NeurologyMichael J. Aminoff · 6th edition · neurophysiologyCore text for NCS/EMG, EEG and evoked potential stations.
  6. Preston and Shapiro: Electromyography and Neuromuscular DisordersPreston, Shapiro · 4th edition · practical EMG/NCSMore usable than Aminoff at the bench; the standard lab companion.
  7. Niedermeyer's ElectroencephalographySchomer, Lopes da Silva · 7th edition · EEG referenceAuthoritative EEG text for epilepsy rotations and EEG spots.
  8. Caplan's Stroke: A Clinical ApproachLouis R. Caplan · 5th edition · stroke referenceClinical-syndrome approach to stroke that maps well onto Indian case mix.
  9. Continuum: Lifelong Learning in Neurology (AAN)American Academy of Neurology · current practice updatesIssue-based reviews that keep management answers current; widely used for revision.
Journals

Journals that matter in Neurology

Journal club and the recent-advances parts of the theory paper come from here. You do not need all of them — follow one Indian and two international titles properly.

Annals of Indian Academy of NeurologyNeurology IndiaNeurologyAnnals of Neurology.Journal of the Neurological Sciences.Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.BrainStrokeNeurology Clinics of North AmericaCurrent opinion in NeurologyThe LancetJournal of the Association of Physicians of India.Journal of the Indian Medical Association.Bulletin of the ICMRBulletin of the WHOJournal of the American Medical AssociationMedical Clinics of North America.
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 DrNB Neurology residents.

Year 1

Build the base

Master examination and localisation - DeJong plus Brazis - while reading Adams and Victor cover to cover. Start neurophysiology basics and finalise the thesis protocol.

Year 2

Go deep, collect thesis data

Shift to Bradley for depth, add Preston and Shapiro and Niedermeyer during EMG/EEG postings, and read Caplan during the stroke rotation. Follow Continuum issues as they appear.

Year 3

Revise, drill, submit

Selective revision of Bradley, systematic guideline reading, timed short-note practice, and daily spot practice on imaging, EEG and NCS traces.

Thesis

References for your thesis

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

  • ICMR National Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical and Health Research Involving Human Participants
  • STROBE and CONSORT reporting statements
  • Designing Clinical Research - Hulley, Cummings et al.
  • Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology and Neurology India for Indian cohort data
  • Disease-specific diagnostic criteria papers (McDonald, ILAE, MDS, ALS/El Escorial) relevant to the topic
Practical & viva

What the practical actually tests

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

  • Long case with full localisation, differential and investigation plan
  • Short cases: cerebellar, extrapyramidal, neuromuscular, cranial nerve and higher-function cases
  • Fundus and neuro-ophthalmology station
  • MRI/CT brain and spine spot interpretation
  • EEG and evoked potential traces
  • NCS/EMG data interpretation
  • CSF, muscle and nerve biopsy, and neurogenetics report interpretation
About the course

DrNB Neurology in context

DrNB Neurology theory is three papers of 100 marks each over three hours per paper, written as short notes, with 150/300 needed to pass. The practical, also 300 marks, is taken only after clearing theory and mixes clinical cases and/or OSCE with viva. Neurology practicals put unusually heavy weight on localisation in the long case and on EEG, NCS/EMG and neuroimaging spots.

Frequently asked

DrNB Neurology books — questions

Which books does the NBE curriculum list for DrNB Neurology?

The National Board of Examinations curriculum for Neurology lists 28 titles, beginning with DeJong's The Neurological Examination, 7th Edition. Stephanie Lessig, MD edited by William Campbell, 671 pp., illus., Philadelphia, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins,. The full list is reproduced on this page exactly as it is published.

Which single book should I start with in DrNB Neurology?

Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice by Jankovic, Mazziotta, Pomeroy, Newman is the usual anchor. The main two-volume reference most Indian neurology residents build their reading around.

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

DrNB 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 DrNB 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.

Other superspecialties

Book guides for every DrNB superspecialty