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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Medical Neuroscience by Duke University

4.9
stars
3,058 ratings

About the Course

Medical Neuroscience explores the functional organization and neurophysiology of the human central nervous system, while providing a neurobiological framework for understanding human behavior. In this course, you will discover the organization of the neural systems in the brain and spinal cord that mediate sensation, motivate bodily action, and integrate sensorimotor signals with memory, emotion and related faculties of cognition. The overall goal of this course is to provide the foundation for understanding the impairments of sensation, action and cognition that accompany injury, disease or dysfunction in the central nervous system. The course will build upon knowledge acquired through prior studies of cell and molecular biology, general physiology and human anatomy, as we focus primarily on the central nervous system. This online course is designed to include all of the core concepts in neurophysiology and clinical neuroanatomy that would be presented in most first-year neuroscience courses in schools of medicine. However, there are some topics (e.g., biological psychiatry) and several learning experiences (e.g., hands-on brain dissection) that we provide in the corresponding course offered in the Duke University School of Medicine on campus that we are not attempting to reproduce in Medical Neuroscience online. Nevertheless, our aim is to faithfully present in scope and rigor a medical school caliber course experience. This course comprises six units of content organized into 12 weeks, with an additional week for a comprehensive final exam: - Unit 1 Neuroanatomy (weeks 1-2). This unit covers the surface anatomy of the human brain, its internal structure, and the overall organization of sensory and motor systems in the brainstem and spinal cord. - Unit 2 Neural signaling (weeks 3-4). This unit addresses the fundamental mechanisms of neuronal excitability, signal generation and propagation, synaptic transmission, post synaptic mechanisms of signal integration, and neural plasticity. - Unit 3 Sensory systems (weeks 5-7). Here, you will learn the overall organization and function of the sensory systems that contribute to our sense of self relative to the world around us: somatic sensory systems, proprioception, vision, audition, and balance senses. - Unit 4 Motor systems (weeks 8-9). In this unit, we will examine the organization and function of the brain and spinal mechanisms that govern bodily movement. - Unit 5 Brain Development (week 10). Next, we turn our attention to the neurobiological mechanisms for building the nervous system in embryonic development and in early postnatal life; we will also consider how the brain changes across the lifespan. - Unit 6 Cognition (weeks 11-12). The course concludes with a survey of the association systems of the cerebral hemispheres, with an emphasis on cortical networks that integrate perception, memory and emotion in organizing behavior and planning for the future; we will also consider brain systems for maintaining homeostasis and regulating brain state....

Top reviews

SA

Nov 16, 2017

I found this course extremely useful. It was exactly what I needed and expected. A structured study of the brain and the spinal chord starting at the cellular level. A perfect course!

IR

Mar 26, 2019

I used this as preparation material for a module/test for my graduate degree and i found the videos to be clearer, more complete, and helpful than my actual courses. That is quite impressive.

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876 - 900 of 910 Reviews for Medical Neuroscience

By Patrick H

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Jan 5, 2017

Really detailed course but super medical (obviously) rather than anything too cognitive. I'd strongly recommend being very confident with biological sciences and chemistry to do this course.

By Arthur A S

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Feb 19, 2021

Superb lectures and very comprehensive material.

Too much detail.

Exams are too difficult. Questions should have 4 or at most 5 answer choices and should focus more on overall concepts.

By Mauricio O

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Oct 29, 2020

Excelente curso, pero demasiado largo y muy poco tiempo por semana para completar la fecha tope. Si se amplía el curso unas semanas más y es todo más espaciado sería de 5 estrellas.

By Valeria R Y

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Aug 22, 2020

SOmetimes the questions where not in order, this is, there were questions in some sections about topics that were in future sections

By Deleted A

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Jul 4, 2016

Lots of self study required by anyone from a non-biology/medical background. This is a very interesting topic, and is a good course.

By Grey

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Jun 12, 2024

Interesting and tough to crack, learned a lot from it. HIghly recommend to anyone who is serious about studying neuroscience.

By Daisy R D

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Jan 23, 2017

Very interesting and challenging. Thank you so much Dr. White and to all the Course Management. You taught me a lot.

By Lorenzo N

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Jun 14, 2022

very fruitful and rich of knowledge. I can recommend this course to whom is interested in clinical neuroscience ;)

By Raphael

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Aug 17, 2020

Good to learn but somewhat is too clinical which might be quite difficult for non-clinical student

By Laura F

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Nov 26, 2025

Learned a lot throughout this course. An amazing experience.

By Sonal N

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Nov 25, 2017

This course helped me get an overview of the human brain.

By Samuel I

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Jan 8, 2017

Tough but it's worth it. Neuroscience is pretty fun!!

By Vashu S

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Jul 14, 2021

its too difficult for an average student like me

By DrAAKASH P

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Oct 3, 2019

good to explore new dimensions of neuroscience

By Ei E K

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Jan 31, 2017

very detail teaching and very good instructor.

By genoveva g d

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Nov 26, 2016

me parece un curso muy útil, completo y claro

By Shreyas P

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Jun 27, 2018

hard but worth the efforts

By miguel e r g

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Jun 23, 2020

SOLO QUE DIGA QUE TERMINE

By Noor u H

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Aug 9, 2025

Good cource

By Zoila S

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Jun 23, 2025

Enjoying it

By Muhammad M R

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Jul 1, 2025

-

By Revathy M

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Aug 21, 2021

I find this course very useful.. it made me to understand about the topics ,whenever I solve the test and final exam . I can identify the most of the topics are covered .

By Shuochen Z

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Aug 6, 2016

it is a little hard to student who not major in medicine

By Miguel S

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Jun 4, 2025

No me han otorgado el certificado.

By Pallavi D D

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May 5, 2018

cool