Learning Objectives
>The course objectives is to introduce the first year medical student to the form,
function, and dysfunction of the nervous system with an emphasis upon the major disease
processes which a general physician is likely to encounter. Course content is based
in part upon guidelines consistent with the NMBE examination. Upon completion of
the Neuroscience course a student should, therefore:
1. Have been exposed to the basic terminology of Neuroscience in order to communicate
effectively with his/her colleagues about brain structure and function.
2. Have a working knowledge of the gross anatomy and blood supply of the central
nervous system and be able to identify dysfunction based upon vascular lesions.
3. Be able to follow the major pathways of each sensory modality to its cortical
termination, understand how the appropriate motor response is selected, and be able
to trace the motor outflow from the cerebrum to the appropriate level in the brain
stem and/or spinal cord.
4. Be familiar with the basic physiology of reflex activity, and the major structures
and pathways involved in motor functions in order to effectively evaluate either the
presence or absence of reflex activity.
5. Be familiar with the major neurotransmitters implicated in CNS function and the
diseases associated with their imbalance.
6. Understand why injury at a specific level of the neuraxis may produce changes
in a person's reflex pattern, in their ability to discriminate specific sensory stimuli,
and in their ability to perform certain motor functions.
7. Have a working knowledge of the structures and pathways involved in the maintenance
of such homoeostatic mechanisms as sleep-wake cycles and arousal systems.
8. Have an appreciation of the integrative ability of the forebrain which the general
physican is likely to encounter not only in the more easily recognised sensory and
motor functions, but also in the more subtle aspects of behavior, emotion, and cognitive
function.
9. Be able to recognize basic pathology on CT, MRI, and angiographic studies and
to correlate that pathology with likely clinical situations.
Grading Procedures
>
A student's grade in the course is based upon the results of four integrated examinations
and a comprehensive final exam which is the Neuroscience shelf exam. The first four
exams comprise 75% of the final grade in the course, while the final exam is worth
25% of the final grade. In addition, attendance will be taken at random intervals
throughout the course and points assigned which will be added to the final grade.
For the exams, a multiple choice format is used; the tests are computer-graded. The
cutoff point between grades for each exam and for the final grade is as follows:
Honors is set at 89 and High Pass at 82. The cutoff for Passing is 70. Any queries
as to your grade on a particular exam must be brought to the Course Director attention
within one week after the grades for that exam are posted. Students who fail to pass
the course will be required to make up the deficit by taking a summer course in Neuroscience,
if one is available, or by taking a re-examination in the summer if a comparable course
is unavailable.
It is expected that all students will maintain a high standard of honesty. During
examinations, any verbal or written communication will be with the examination proctors
only. If the proctors feel that your actions suggest cheating, you will receive a
preliminary warning and may be moved to a different location. This will not be an
accusation. However, if your actions persist or you are caught in the flagrant act
of cheating, you will be so accused. In all cases, you will be allowed to finish
the examination.
Additional Information
>The class schedule indicates the daily session involving the entire class. Unless
otherwise announced, all lectures will be in Lecture Room B of the Medical Education
Building and all laboratories in Multi disciplinary Labs 3 and 4 on the fourth floor.
Attendance is required at all lectures and labs.
REQUIRED - TEXT, ATLAS, LAB MANUAL and CD-ROMS:
Required: Neuroanatomy through Clinical Cases. Hal Blumenfeld, MD, PhD, 1st Ed, Sinauer Associates.
2002 (ISBN: 0878930604)
Required: The Human Brain in Photographs and Diagrams. John Nolte and Jay Angevine. 3rd Ed,
Mosby 2007 (ISBN: 9780323045735)
RECOMMENDED - as ancillary study guides:
Ace the Boards, Neuroscience, Castro, Merchut, Neafsey, and Wurster, Mosby 1996
Haines, "Fundamental Neuroscience for Basic and Clinical Applications", 3rd Ed, Churchill
Livingston, 2006
FACULTY OFFICES - Faculty housed in the Medical Education Building include: Dr. Mize (Course Director),
Room 6154, e-mail: rmize@lsuhsc.edu; Dr. Weyand, Room 6228, and Dr. Whitworth, Room 6230. The phone number for these
individuals is 568-4011.