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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Medical Neuroscience by Duke University

4.9
stars
3,071 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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851 - 875 of 915 Reviews for Medical Neuroscience

By Neurall

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Jan 31, 2018

The Best!

By Gabriela S S S

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Jan 26, 2018

Fantastic

By Miguel  G

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Oct 29, 2017

Very nice

By Manuel B

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Mar 23, 2017

Excelente

By Ignazio S M

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Aug 16, 2016

excellent

By farzaneh d d

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Jul 30, 2016

بسیار خوب

By ANDERSON D P M

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Jun 14, 2016

Amazing!!

By Talita C

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May 29, 2023

Excelent

By Sakhile N

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Jun 10, 2019

the best

By Deleted A

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Sep 2, 2017

Perfect!

By Penelope R

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Feb 24, 2017

Awesome!

By Silvia J T G

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May 1, 2025

amazing

By Kapil M

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Jun 3, 2022

Amazing

By Manuel D

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Feb 19, 2018

Amazing

By Gourav D

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Sep 17, 2017

awesome

By Kirill K

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Jun 25, 2017

useful!

By Nazaret P V

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Jan 14, 2019

great!

By Elvin M

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Jul 19, 2016

Super!

By HE Y

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Aug 12, 2025

Good

By Emily K

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Apr 25, 2022

By Tatyana S

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Feb 20, 2018

v

By Roberto S

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Nov 21, 2017

T

By Yasmine K

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Jun 1, 2020

I'm suprised by how much knowledge I gained by the end of the course. The physiology and anatomy of the brain were my favourite parts and I loved learning about the functions of each part of the brain. Week 12 was my favourite. Initially, I thought the course would be full of learning about the functions of the brain but instead, there was a lot of neurology. Nonetheless, great course for understanding the fundamentals of the brain and this neurobiochem basis is what helps in understanding the bigger picture. Note/ advice: the only science I've done is AP physics and math. If you seek to understand the topics and make notes as you go along then there is no difficulty in completing the course!

Neuroscience to me is like a puzzle: you have a lesion in the brain and you locate this by using the symptoms presented in the patient. This is what makes it fun, I love researching and investigating!

By Maria M

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Sep 4, 2025

Wow. Clear, complete, engaging overview of the wondrous world of the brain, brainstem, and nerves. With plenty of insights into their fragility, too, from early development to complex emotional and cognitive phenomena. Why not five stars? A little note concerning invasive animal experiments. The professor made a good job presenting every topic with the utmost respect, also showing awareness of criticisms, and he made a little reference to animal welfare standards and regulations in his workplace. But I personally prefer a clear presentation of paths towards the substitution of invasive animal tests. Anyway, in the framework of learning, it's important to know what others have done, even if you choose different paths. And the course offers an excellent foundation in medical neuroscience. Thank you, Professor White!

By Loes D

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Dec 23, 2025

This course was very interesting and took a real deep dive into neuroscience. I do believe it will take more time than what is recommended to fully immerse yourself into the subject matter. The amount of knowledge that is put into this course is a lot, but it is really worth it to understand neuroscience. There were also a lot of helping tools recommended that really helped me through this course.