first topics to be covered in physio and neuro

[mb54]

hey, to anyone who has just finished 2nd term - could you tell me what the first 2 big topics you guys covered in physio and neuro were....?
muchos gracias,
mb

[Saora1]

Planning on getting a head start?

Physio - I believe we started with an intro lecture series(2 or 3 lectures) by Dr. on homeostasis, osmolarity, etc. and then moved on to muscle mechanics - skeletal, heart and smooth by visiting prof. Dr. . Topic order for the rest of the term was then Cardiovascular Mechanics, Endocrine + Reproduction, Midterm, Respiratory Mechanics, GI, Renal and then a few lectures on Exercise Phy and Temp. Regulation.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

In any case, since Dr. left (big loss to SGU in my opinion) I don't know what changes they might be making. Our schedule was different from the term before e.g. the did Cardio and Resp. together for one exam.

Neuro - intro lecture on anatomic planes e.g. coronal, etc., MRI imaging and then some stuff on neuroanatomy and tracts. I have no idea really cause the teaching was so absolutely horrible that to this date I don't know what's going on.

Again, if I'm "remembering incorrectly" I'm sure someone else can get you up to date, but I think that's how it was.

[mb54]

thanks... yeah- i'm not sure about a head start- i'm enjoying being home too much!!! the thing is - i might be coming in about a week late - so just doing some preliminary research

thanks though,
mb

ps: ure not the first to say the neuro faculty sucks - any advice? any books i should bring? so far i've only ordered the atlas, i believe i'll have access to hi yield as well....

[Saora1]

While I personally did not use High Yield, it was recommended to me by several upper termers towards the end of the term when I mentioned that I was having a difficult time with Neuro. I didn't have time to read it at that point.

A book, I really liked was Roadmap to Neuroscience (by James White, I think). Again, this was recommended to me by a friend before I started second term. The thing is that it's a review book and is infinitely more useful when you've covered most of the material. I LOVED it for the comprehensive final exam, but when I started reading it closer to the start of term, I did not find it nearly as useful and was wondering why my friend told me to get it.

Post midterm, I got my hands on Neuroanatomy Made Ridiculously Simple (this is available in the library but I *gasp* downloaded it) and wished I'd had it before. It's only 88 pages long and extremely basic, but quite helpful. It does not go into any kind of detail - something the Neuro department really does - so just browse through it quickly, but it gives you a nice big-picture view.

My advice if I had to do it all over again would be to read Rid. Simple early in the term and skim through Roadmap (or I guess High Yield). Don't worry if you don't get it cause you won't have covered all the material yet. STAY UP TO DATE ON THE LECTURE HANDOUTS.

Yes, it's that important cause all questions come from them. MEMORIZE THEM as much as you can. Closer to the midterm, read select topics in Roadmap and maybe Rid. Simple again.

Repeat for the final. By this time, like I said, Roadmap was really, really useful to me. It expanded a lot on the lecture notes and made it easier for me to understand what the hell the crazy Germans were going on about in lecture. Since we'd now covered everything, I could now understand Roadmap a lot more as each chapter covers material from all over the place.

Can't say any more than that except the standard caveat of what worked for me won't suit everyone else. Just don't wait too long to find out what does work for you for Neuro. I did and almost paid the price for it.

Finally, do not slack in 2nd term. Take the advice that I was given and use your "extra" time wisely to study. It seems like you have more time, but you really don't. DO NOT fall behind.

PS Immuno also sucks as much as everyone says it does. Dr. is a very nice woman, but a terrible lecturer.

[misscanada]

Before I took neuro I heard the same story: Neuro faculty sucks!!!! But I didn't let this hinder me. I went in to the class with a positive attitude and I told myself regardless of the faculty I would pull it off. I went to classes and whatever didn't make sense, I filled in the gaps myself by using high yeild, BRS and other simple neuro books from the library. (Kandel wasn't that helpful)
I did exceptionally well, I enjoyed the class and it has been by far my favorite class of all times.
Go in with a positive attitude, don't listen to anyone and put in your all and you can do it!

[AOk]

"In any case, since Dr. Nelson left (big loss to SGU in my opinion) I don't know what changes they might be making."

What happened to this professor?

[Saora1]

Neuro was a good class and I did learn a lot (and like what I did learn on top of it), but the "problem" was that it was all self-taught.

The professors were not much help even if you tried to go see them for office hours. At least, that's what I found and other people confirmed for me.

Obviously you need to give it your all and pass the course. I'm not saying otherwise and trying to be negative, but the fact does remain that the Neuro profs (as funny as they may be sometimes) are very poor lecturers. They know their stuff but don't convey it well.

Unfortunately, that will often be the case just like there are profs like Nelson and some of the tutors who are excellent educators.

So it shouldn't hinder you that the "Neuro faculty sucks" but it does make a difference in how well one can learn when there are better resources available. In my experience anyway. That's not to say it's their fault if people do poorly, because it most certainly isn't. I simply didn't find them very helpful. I will stress that that is my opinion because people sometimes don't get that point.

***

I don't know if there's any reason Dr. left other than he perhaps felt he "did his time" at SGU and wanted to move on. I think he's been here for 5 years.

[stephew]

do your self a favor; do NOT prestudy. why? because you'll work and what took, you 3 weeks will take 2 days in class and you will freak out. This is your last chance at not having big responsibilty; enjoy it and dont sabatage yourself.

[seagoddess]

Couldn't agree more. I actually tried it for a while until I realized it wasn't really going to be of any benefit. I firmly believe you have plenty of time to study the material during the semester. We had Ivan during 2nd term and we lost a couple of weeks and our class still did well. Also, I don't think missing the first week of class is a big deal.

do your self a favor; do NOT prestudy. why? because you'll work and what took, you 3 weeks will take 2 days in class and you will freak out. This is your last chance at not having big responsibilty; enjoy it and dont sabatage yourself.

[drnick07]

The previously mentioned physio prof left because a very lucrative offer was made to him to be a critical care director in miami. If anyone doesn't already knows his story of how he came to SGU, he literally sailed his boat to grenada and never left. I have his new contact info if anyone wants it. just PM me. Personally, i consider him to be one of the 2 best profs i ever had at SGU. Sad to see him go.