Reviewer: Lesley Knight Gilmer, PhD (University of Louisville)
Description: This book covers clinically relevant topics surrounding neuroanatomy and neuroscience. It attempts to have a clear, concise, and stripped-down explanation of all major topics covered in a typical medical-level neuroanatomy/neuroscience course and for the vast majority of topics succeeds at this goal. The chapters stay out of the "weeds" and lay out a clear, readable explanation of topics. The shorter chapters decrease the neurophobia students may experience tackling lengthy chapters presented in some textbooks. The student resources with cases and multiple-choice questions are better than I have previously seen elsewhere. This is a now a contender for my upcoming neuroanatomy courses due to the layout, topics covered, images, and resources for students and educators. It is a great textbook. The seventh edition was completed in 2016.
Purpose: The book's purpose for a new edition is to increase readability and relevance while tackling some specific alterations to certain topics throughout the textbook. I looked for specific challenging concepts throughout the book and I did find the reading of that material clear and concise. Ascending and descending tracts are easy to follow looking at the diagrams. The brainstem is extremely nice to look at the cross sections in color - this chapter is wonderful. I thought the basal ganglia was clear to read with nice diagrams. I would have liked to see the circuit diagrams for spinocerebellar, cerebrocerebellar, and vestibulocerebellar tracts. The visual system was well laid out in terms of information and diagrams. The online and print format of the book is a great option to pick and choose, which suits your needs better. The questions are a very strong selling point for students. It would be nice to have them broken up by chapters or topics. I didn't see a way to search for topic-based questions. The book and website meet the objectives.
Audience: I believe the book is written for students first and residents second as a review to transition into the clinic. It is not intended for clinicians but could be used as a resource by clinicians guiding medical students and residents. There is something for all three groups based on the authors' and my opinion. The book does meet the needs of its intended audience and the authors are credible authorities on the subject. They are recognized experts based on credentials and publications.
Features: The book uses short titles for clear, definable learning objectives. This shortens the chapters' scope so readers can begin assembling the necessary building blocks for a broad neuroscience and neuroanatomy background. The cases are a great learning tool to make sure readers are capturing the broader picture and able to translate basic neuroscience and neuroanatomy into clinical understanding and reasoning. The pictures are simple, well labeled, and not too busy on trying to name countless structures. Clinical panels help with applying the knowledge along the way while building a foundation. I was able to find useful features in both the online version of the book as well as the print version. I liked the Core Information boxes for short, concise take-home messages at the ends of the chapters. I did not find any glaring gaps in content. I liked the color coordination of the tracts and labeled nuclei, but would have like to see these labeled on a human section or at least a side-by-side comparison so students can practice identification of imaging or in the laboratory. Here, the labeling is nice but overwhelming. Regarding the trigeminal nerve - I wouldn't group both fine touch and the trigeminothalamic tract together as the trigeminal lemniscus. I would call the combined tracts as the trigeminothalamic tract perhaps, but don't agree with how it is currently labeled (p. 236). Regarding spinocerebellar tracts and vestibulocerebellar tracts in chapter 27 - only cerebrocerebellar was depicted (p. 289).
Assessment: The diagrams are straightforward and easy to understand, but some diagrams need a more realistic feel, especially the brainstem and spinal cord sections. The field is tough, competing with the books by Blumenfeld, Nolte, and Haines, as well as Mayo Clinic Medical Neurosciences: Organized by Neurologic System and Level, 6th edition, Benarroch et al. (Oxford University Press, 2017). I like this text as a resource if students need a readable textbook, but with the lack of human sections, complete circuit diagrams for cranial nerves, central processing and peripheral, and three main cerebellar pathways, it would be hard to use over some other options. The cases are a great feature, but again, I would use patient imaging or human sections in any clinical case and explain those images with the drawn depictions. I have not used or reviewed previous editions.
"This book covers clinically relevant topics surrounding neuroanatomy and neuroscience. The book does meet the needs of its intended audience and the authors are credible authorities on the subject. They are recognized experts based on credentials and publications."
- © Doody’s Review Service, 2021, Lesley Knight Gilmer, Ph.D. Neurotrauma Research U.K (University of Pikeville, Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine) Score: 94-4 Stars!
