I'm godawful at neuro

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My neuro background is extremely lacking. What resources are available to help bring it up? I have about 50 days until step, and I feel confident in most of my other areas.

I've tried reading high yield neuro but I get lost in the details fairly quickly.

Any suggestions? What have you guys used?

Originally Posted by herewego

My neuro background is extremely lacking. What resources are available to help bring it up? I have about 50 days until step, and I feel confident in most of my other areas.

I've tried reading high yield neuro but I get lost in the details fairly quickly.

Any suggestions? What have you guys used?

I would have suggested HY-Neuroanatomy (the first ~70 pages).

However, if it hasn't worked for you, considering you are only fifty days from the Step, I would seriously just focus on neuro practice questions from the QBanks (and really delve into what they're asking) and memorizing FA.

Originally Posted by Phloston

However, if it hasn't worked for you, considering you are only fifty days from the Step, I would seriously just focus on neuro practice questions from the QBanks (and really delve into what they're asking) and memorizing FA.

That's always a good option. Even if you don't really know the material, you can get a lot of questions right by just memorizing the high-yield facts.

You could try to do what I'm doing. I'm not that bad at neuro, but as it happens, I'm supposed to do my neuro review in the latter half of this week. My plan is to start off by reading Clinical Neuroanatomy Made Ridiculously Simple... I think it's under 100 pages long. I feel the same way as you about HY Neuro... when I read it, it just comes off like a long list of facts... and that's what FA is for.

After I go through that book, I'm planning to watch all of the neuro lectures in Pathoma and USMLERx Express.

Altogether, I'm expecting that plan to take me about three days. Then I might take another day to review the neuro section of FA to make sure that I didn't miss anything.

Shan564, when are you sitting the Step1?

Originally Posted by Phloston

I would have suggested HY-Neuroanatomy (the first ~70 pages).

However, if it hasn't worked for you, considering you are only fifty days from the Step, I would seriously just focus on neuro practice questions from the QBanks (and really delve into what they're asking) and memorizing FA.

Is there a reason why you don't recommend the entire book?

Originally Posted by JackShephard MD

Is there a reason why you don't recommend the entire book?

I found the first ~70 pages (first-half) to be comprehensive enough; the second-half of the book got overly specific and it didn't seem like the best use of time/effort (i.e. it had information on lots of little structures and nerve pathways that I had never heard of before, including in depth stuff on gustatory and facial innervation, etc., which I could just tell was hyper low-yield. It doesn't mean it wouldn't help, but I felt it best to move on).

Anyway, the neuro I've done so far:

1) First ~70 pages from HY-Neuroanatomy

2) BRS Pathology neuro section (at least 2 passes).

3) Two passes on the Robbin's Rapid Review of Pathology neuro questions

4) University of Utah Webpath neuro questions

5) DejaReview USMLE neuro Q&A

6) Two passes on the neuro reading from FA


Out of the ~2050 questions I've done in USMLE Rx so far, my neuroanatomy and neurology breakdowns are at 92% and 84%, respectively, representing a combined ~240 total questions.

My cumulative performance across all subjects is ~86%, so I consider my neuroanatomy good and neurology okay.

If I try to rationalize those percentages, I can tell that I'm very comfortable with blood supply, innervation, location/effects of CNS lesions (neuroanatomy). The questions I've gotten wrong I feel have been elaborative histological or pathophysiological concepts mostly unique to the QBank.

I hope that helps,

Originally Posted by Phloston

I found the first ~70 pages (first-half) to be comprehensive enough; the second-half of the book got overly specific and it didn't seem like the best use of time/effort (i.e. it had information on lots of little structures and nerve pathways that I had never heard of before, including in depth stuff on gustatory and facial innervation, etc., which I could just tell was hyper low-yield. It doesn't mean it wouldn't help, but I felt it best to move on).

Anyway, the neuro I've done so far:

1) First ~70 pages from HY-Neuroanatomy

2) Two passes on the Robbin's Rapid Review of Pathology neuro questions

3) University of Utah Webpath neuro questions

4) DejaReview USMLE neuro Q&A

5) Two passes on the neuro reading from FA


Out of the ~2050 questions I've done in USMLE Rx so far, my neuroanatomy and neurology breakdowns are at 92% and 84%, respectively, representing a combined ~240 total questions.

My cumulative performance across all subjects is ~86%, so I consider my neuroanatomy good and neurology okay.

If I try to rationalize those percentages, I can tell that I'm very comfortable with blood supply, innervation, location/effects of CNS lesions (neuroanatomy). The questions I've gotten wrong I feel have been elaborative histological or pathophysiological concepts mostly unique to the QBank.

I hope that helps,

Thanks for the detailed response, I only ask because I'm also pretty weak at neuro.

You're talking about this Deja Review book?

http://www.amazon.com/Deja-Review-Ne...dp_ob_title_bk


So basically stick to the first 70 pages, use Deja Review and Qbanks? I've never used a Deja Review book nor heard of them recommended. You think it's good to go through this entire book?

Deja Review Neuroscience is golden. I highly recommend it; my neuro scores are great & it's a large part of that review book. It integrates the clinical & anatomy part of neuro to perfection. There was minimal to zero low yield in the book. Literally the whole thing is HY. It's an easy read with its Q&A format.

Originally Posted by missmedschool

Deja Review Neuroscience is golden. I highly recommend it; my neuro scores are great & it's a large part of that review book. It integrates the clinical & anatomy part of neuro to perfection. There was minimal to zero low yield in the book. Literally the whole thing is HY. It's an easy read with its Q&A format.

I've actually never tried DejaReview Neuroscience. I'm referring to the neuro questions within the generalized DejaReview USMLE Step1 (there's an actual DejaReview specifically titled for the USMLE).



Btw, I do however own the DejaReviews for biochemistry, pharmacology and microbiology & immunology and would not recommend them as I think they're a bit overkill and trivia-like, rather than succinct and clinical. I recommend the neuro questions within the generalized book because I feel that text hits a little of the foundation of every topic.

Originally Posted by Phloston

I've actually never tried DejaReview Neuroscience. I'm referring to the neuro questions within the generalized DejaReview USMLE Step1 (there's an actual DejaReview specifically titled for the USMLE).



Btw, I do however own the DejaReviews for biochemistry, pharmacology and microbiology & immunology and would not recommend them as I think they're a bit overkill and trivia-like, rather than succinct and clinical. I recommend the neuro questions within the generalized book because I feel that text hits a little of the foundation of every topic.

lol, oops. I bought the Neruo one online already.

Oh well, hope it's good.

Originally Posted by JackShephard MD

lol, oops. I bought the Neruo one online already.

Oh well, hope it's good.

Well if it was "golden" for Missmedschool, then it probably won't be the end of the world to have the extra review, particularly if you feel your neuro needs tweaking.

I read DejaReview casually, usually for about an hour every week in one of the hospital lounge areas before going into each of my pathology pracs.

And I forgot to also mention: I also memorized the neuro from BRS Pathology (I'll edit my post above).

I would read BRS at home then "touch-up" with the DejaReview before pathology pracs. This worked quite well for me.

I'm going out on a limb and getting the kindle version of deja review neuroscience now. I'll report back how it was.

Originally Posted by herewego

I'm going out on a limb and getting the kindle version of deja review neuroscience now. I'll report back how it was.

I have mine shipping in the mail, also ordered the Deja Review Step 1 just now.

I looked at the "See it now" part on Amazon.com, it looks pretty decent and if anything it will help with the super high yield stuff. Good to hear that the 2nd half of High Yield Neuro is low yield, because I felt like it was getting into minutia.

Does anyone have any views on RR neuroscience ?

http://www.amazon.com/Rapid-Review-N...4246516&sr=8-7

there is no newer edition though , but still wondering if anyone's used it and can give some input on how they found it

Originally Posted by JackShephard MD

lol, oops. I bought the Neruo one online already.

Oh well, hope it's good.

You're in good hands lol ... I loved that book ... such an easy read.

I actually bought Deja Review Step 1, Micro/immuno, and Pharm and I really liked them. I'm more of a Q&A type of guy versus just reading stuff. I found a few errors in the Step 1 review book but overall it's really been good to go through during down time. My exam is next Saturday so I guess we'll see.

Originally Posted by amavir281

I actually bought Deja Review Step 1, Micro/immuno, and Pharm and I really liked them. I'm more of a Q&A type of guy versus just reading stuff. I found a few errors in the Step 1 review book but overall it's really been good to go through during down time. My exam is next Saturday so I guess we'll see.

Are there any particular sections from the former two books that you liked more than others?

The "Make the Dx" section at the end of the step 1 review book and the systems review in the micro section