The Approach of Practical Neurology: Explore and Exploit

Welcome to the August 2023 edition of the Practical Neurology Editor's Podcast! Neurology is a team sport, and our journal has two editors, Phil Smith and Garrett Fuller. Each issue presents a challenge for us to find a common theme among the articles. This time, Garrett discovered that the approach to practical neurology allows for both exploration and exploitation. He took inspiration from a blog by Ian Leslie, who discusses the computer-based phenomenon known as 'explore and exploit.' We can apply this concept to everyday decisions, such as choosing a restaurant. You can either explore new places or stick to your favorite spot. Both options have their benefits and risks. Similarly, in most journals, the focus is on exploring new ideas, but in practical neurology, we aim to exploit what we already know. We embrace the joke that anything new in our journal is either a misprint or an error, as we are dedicated to utilizing existing knowledge.