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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

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.

MS

May 31, 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.

Filter by:

726 - 750 of 928 Reviews for Medical Neuroscience

By Mahmoud A

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Oct 12, 2021

Thanks for Medical Neuroscience

By Vicky M

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Sep 22, 2020

Great course! Amazing professor

By lakhinder

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Oct 19, 2019

Incredible learning experience!

By Samuel S

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Oct 1, 2016

Challenging course worth 5stars

By sarun s

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Feb 19, 2026

Very informative and enjoyable

By AIKINS O S

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Mar 13, 2025

The course was very insightful

By Daniela C

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Mar 24, 2020

Curso maravilhoso! Desafiador!

By Arnab M

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Nov 3, 2019

Thorough, in-depth, conceptual

By Guzel R

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Aug 30, 2018

It's the best free course ever

By Saleha Q

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Jun 9, 2016

Way to enjoy the neuroscience!

By Shan K

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Aug 4, 2023

Hard, but very knowledgeable.

By fabiola a p p

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Feb 14, 2021

It's very hard but great too.

By CABINET H A - C C

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Oct 14, 2020

Extremement riche et complexe

By Min M

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Feb 24, 2019

the best course I've ever had

By Annette H

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Nov 26, 2025

Very good course! Thank you!

By Hafsa S

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Nov 22, 2025

very good course and helpful

By Jared R

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Nov 1, 2023

Best course I've ever taken.

By Jim W

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Oct 6, 2022

Truely an excellent course!

By Issam B

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Jan 24, 2021

In one word : life changing.

By Keziah A B

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Jun 4, 2020

Very Interesting. Thank you.

By Ronei C

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Sep 12, 2018

Excelente, vale muito apena!

By ERIC

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Sep 1, 2016

very detailed and thoughtful

By vonette c

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Jul 25, 2020

Great course great lecturer

By Lenka M

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Mar 5, 2020

It is soooo helpful for me.

By Jt

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Jan 15, 2026

Excellent in-depth course.