Czech Herwig, Zeidman Lawrence A
a Recipient of an APART-fellowship of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
J Hist Neurosci. 2014;23(2):160-91. doi: 10.1080/0964704X.2013.865427. Epub 2014 Apr 3.
Walther Birkmayer, an Austrian neurologist, codiscovered the efficacy of levodopa therapy for Parkinsonism in 1961. However, little has been published regarding Birkmayer's ties to National Socialism. Through documentary review, we have determined that he was an early illegal member of the SS and the Nazi party, taking part in the "de-Jewification" of the Vienna University Clinic of Psychiatry and Neurology. He also was a leader in the Nazi racial policy office and was praised for his dedication and fanaticism despite being forced to later resign from the SS. He sought support from leading Viennese Nazis, and was able to maintain his professional status for the war's remainder. Postwar, he succeeded at reintegration personally and professionally into Austrian society, all but erasing any obvious ties to his Nazi past. His story reflects ethical transgressions regarding professional and personal behavior in response to a tyrannical regime and provides lessons for today's neuroscientists.
奥地利神经学家瓦尔特·比尔克迈尔在1961年与人共同发现了左旋多巴治疗帕金森病的疗效。然而，关于比尔克迈尔与纳粹党的关系，此前鲜有公开报道。通过文献回顾，我们发现他是党卫军和纳粹党的早期非法成员，参与了维也纳大学精神病学和神经病学诊所的“去犹太化”行动。他还是纳粹种族政策办公室的负责人，尽管后来被迫退出党卫军，但因其奉献精神和狂热受到赞扬。他寻求维也纳纳粹领袖的支持，并在战争剩余时间里维持了自己的职业地位。战后，他在个人和职业上成功重新融入奥地利社会，几乎抹去了与纳粹过去的所有明显联系。他的故事反映了在应对专制政权时，在职业和个人行为方面的道德越轨行为，为当今的神经科学家提供了教训。
