Sherlock Holmes Syndrome

Because Sherlock Holmes is such an iconic fictional character, some have used his name to explain some traits that could be explained by his behaviour.

The Sherlock Holmes Syndrome is based on the inability of Sherlock Holmes’ brain to remain inactive for any length of time. It is best described in Sir Arthur Conan Doyles novel ‘The Sign of Four’ where Holmes is quoted as saying: “My mind,” he said, “rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram or the most intricate analysis, and I am in my own proper atmosphere. I can dispense then with artificial stimulants. But I abhor the dull routine of existence. I crave for mental exaltation.”