Although I’ve never read the late Roald Dahl’s ghost stories and other works of adult fiction, nor his autobiographical volumes, I’m a huge fan of his children’s books (such classics as “James and the Giant Peach,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and the pull-the-covers-up-over-your-head-scary “The Witches”). Best read-aloud-to-kids books ever.

So, when British psychologist Vaughan Bell blogged in MindHacks earlier this week about an article that focused on Dahl’s contributions to neurology, I immediately read it.

The 2008 article [PDF], which appeared in the journal Advances in Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, begins by describing how Dahl experienced a World War II head injury (he was a pilot) that temporarily left him blind. The article’s author, British neurologist Andrew Larner, also suggests that Dahl later exhibited what may have been symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

“[F]or example,” notes Larner, “when writing in his famous shed, he had to have a particular type of paper (yellow American Legal), and both a particular brand and a specific number (6) of pencils.”

But Dahl’s real interest in — and contributions to — clinical neurology stemmed from two personal tragedies. The first occurred in New York in 1960, when Dahl’s infant son, Theo, was injured in a car accident. The boy developed some brain damage and secondary hydrocephalus, a build-up of fluid inside the skull that can damage the brain if not drained, or shunted, away.

Dahl took a very active role in his son’s neurological care. Writes Larner:

The second tragedy that linked Dahl to the world of neurology occurred a few years later:

Dahl, who died in 1990, left behind, in addition to his wonderful writings, the Roald Dahl Foundation, which continues to fund research into neurological conditions affecting children.