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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Medical Neuroscience by Duke University

4.9
stars
3,107 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 17, 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!

MS

Jun 1, 2021

Simply the best MOOC ever on coursera. Very hard and time consuming, but the knowledge one gets from this MOOC is worth the effort. Thank you Dr. White, I am going to miss your lectures.

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751 - 775 of 929 Reviews for Medical Neuroscience

By Jt

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Jan 16, 2026

Excellent in-depth course.

By prem p

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Oct 18, 2024

Good Knowledge for Neurons

By Wagner S

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Dec 12, 2020

Great learning experience.

By Rafael U G

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Sep 3, 2019

Very didatic and complete.

By Anayo M

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Aug 6, 2025

Very inshightful learning

By Noëlle S

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Jul 27, 2024

Very fun and informative!

By Michael

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May 7, 2017

Challenging and worth it.

By Siju V

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Aug 7, 2016

i am loving it. Thank you

By Dr. J H

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Nov 21, 2023

Dr. White is phenomenal.

By Caio R G D

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Nov 1, 2020

Melhor curso possível!!!

By Andrea E

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Jul 14, 2017

excellent course so far.

By Ковальчук А

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May 10, 2025

Very modern Suoercourse

By Tsegazeab A

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Oct 3, 2023

The best course so far.

By Eduardo

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Apr 30, 2023

Muy extenso y completo.

By Dasola T O

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Aug 30, 2022

An execellent learning.

By Alan B

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Jul 5, 2020

Hard work! But worth it

By Karla A L

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Jun 26, 2016

Increible! muy completo

By Lunkatsu

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Mar 11, 2025

this course is magical

By Rodolfo M

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Apr 1, 2022

Thank you very much!!!

By Julie L

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Oct 27, 2019

Very eloquent teacher.

By Emma Y

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Jan 9, 2018

Excellent tutorials!!!

By Nadezhda P S

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Nov 30, 2020

The Best Course Ever!

By pallavi p

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Nov 4, 2019

Very nice explanation

By Nuno R D F C

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Jun 22, 2017

High quality course!!

By gerald d

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Dec 13, 2024

excelente me encanto