March 27, 2023-May 3, 2023
28 half days
Course Director
Bill Yates, MD
Professor
Department of Otolaryngology
byates@pitt.edu
Course Director
Barton Branstetter, MD
Professor
Department of Radiology
branbf@upmc.edu
Course Description
The Neuroscience course provides the first exposure to the organ system approach to pathophysiology. The first of nine such courses, it covers normal and abnormal structure and function of the central nervous system and peripheral innervation of muscle.
Course Goals:
- Understand the principal structural and functional components of the central nervous system and their vascular supply.
- To introduce methods of neuroradiology and imaging techniques important to the study of brain function.
- To take a systematic approach to nervous system function and disease by focusing, in turn, on sensory and motor systems, learning, language, diseases that impact cognitive functioning, epilepsy, etc. using exercises to illustrate how normal functional organization is affected by specific types of disease or abnormal process.
- To recognize functional manifestations of classic neural disorders, and be able to explain their etiology.
Educational Methods
- Lectures
- Problem-based learning
- Laboratory exercises
- Workshops
- Radiology reviews
- Clinical conferences
- Self-study exercises
Curricular Themes
Clinical Reasoning; Disability; Domestic violence/abuse; Human development/life cycle; Infectious disease; Mental health and mental disorders; Nervous system and special senses; Neuroanatomy; Neurology; Neuroscience; Pain management; Pathology; Physiology; Pharmacology; Radiology and Diagnostic imaging; Substance abuse; Vision and hearing.
Evaluation
Evaluation for the course is determined by quizzes, two exams, and student participation in workshop and PBL sessions.
Grading: This course comprises 70% of the grade for the Organ Systems Pathophysiology Block, Section 1. Grading for the section is Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory.