Changing Times in Undergraduate Studies on Neuroanatomy

Abstract

ABSTRACT Undergraduate medical curricula are currently undergoing a process of reform, with such changes including the field of neuroanatomy. In this context, the purpose of our study was to assess the status of undergraduate neuroanatomy studies in Portuguese medical schools to provide a basis for a more informed discussion on the curricular changes. With all seven Portuguese medical schools participating in the study, four of them were shown to incorporate a modern integrated curriculum and the other three a conventional discipline-based curriculum. Our study therefore shows that neuroanatomy is approached differently according to each institutional culture. The great variability in neuroanatomy studies across medical schools emphasizes the need for the creation of a national core curriculum on undergraduate neuroanatomy.