EBD Blog

The print version of the New Yorker for 13 August 2007 includes an article called “An Error in the Code” with a sub-heading of “A syndrome poses questions about free will.” In the article, Richard Preston examines developments in medicine’s understanding of Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, the baffling genetic disorder that is characterized by involuntary movements (choreoathetosis) and severe self-injury. Mr. Preston’s article is not available on line, so readers interested in reviewing it will need to buy the paper version.

The US National Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke has a page entitled “Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome Information Page“; the US National Library of Medicine provides an article about the syndrome; and, of course, there is an entry at Wikipedia.