Introduction to Neuroscience

Reviewed by Marissa Lyon, Assistant Professor, University of New England on 12/11/24

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

Because this an introductory test aimed at undergraduate students, it is limited in its scope of neuroscience. However, this focus is appropriate and intentional. The text begins at a basic level but builds upon this foundation throughout each chapter to cover more intermediate topics of neuroscience.The sections on histology and neuronal communications were appropriately detailed to prepare students to apply the knowledge to future content in pharmacology and neurophysiology. The section in the book on drug and toxin effects was quite scant, and additional information here would have been helpful for a student who learns through the application of principles. I feel that the glossary and embedded links to the glossary could have been used more. For example, in the section on directional terms, multiple terms are introduced. Using a glossary link the first few times the terms are used may decrease the load on students scrolling back to the definition, as they solidify their understanding of it. In this section distal and proximal were not included, which are typically used terms. The section on nervous system organization was more basic that necessary and building on this area would help the overall text. This could have included a few more specific areas of anatomical organization that are meaningful. For example wernicke’s area is never introduced or discussion. So, a student using only this book is going to surprised by the existence of aphasia. Overall, swallow, speech, and hearing and not particularly well addressed throughout this text. There are a few areas of sensation that are missing, as mentioned in the section on organization/structure/flow.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

Content is accurate, no errors in this areas were noted during review of the text. No apparent bias noted during review.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The content includes a few ares of contemporary neuroscience, stress, sleep, PTSD, drug information, and plasticity. However, none of these areas are delved in so deep that they could become quickly dated.

Clarity rating: 5

This book is intended for undergraduate students. I am reviewing it for the use in graduate health care courses. The language used is accessible. All potentially unknown terms are clearly defined and referenced in a glossary. All theories and concepts are clearly described once introduced. This is useful for a student with some science background, limited background, or a good deal of time since their last science courses. All of this may happen for a graduate student. Because of this, this is a good first step for any graduate student cohort, allowing everyone to be on the same page moving through a curriculum. The prose sets this book apart from most books on this topic, the feel inaccessible to a student jumping into a new topic for the first time. The use of visuals, including videos, allows students to more clearly grasp more advanced concepts. These learning supports are well placed and an appropriate quantity is included. There are also video mini-lectures included. These lectures are created by the textbook authors and appropriately paired with concepts.

Consistency rating: 5

Early chapters begins with a link to the glossary terms used in the chapter. The terms are then linked throughout the text. These terms are consistent and any time an alternate is used or may be used elsewhere, it is explained. There is a limited used of abbreviations. When abbreviations are used, they are clearly defined.

Modularity rating: 5

The only potentially problem area here is that there a few chapters that should really be "sub chapters" under the preceeding chapter. These would need to be paired with an early chapter to make sense. A more clearl organization scheme would have added a third level.

However, ever other aspect of this text's organizations makes it easily "chunkable" for assignments and remixing.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

The sections under sensory systems didn’t seem to follow a logical organization. The areas of vision, somatosensation, taste are represented. The other chemical sense is left out and sense of hearing is not included. There are three chapters, one labeled somatosensation and two with the label touch. However, touch is described as a type of somatosensation in chapter 23. In chapters 24 and 25, labeled as focused on touch, the sensations of vibration is included. I think a more ready to follow organization would have clearly organized these from stimuli to perception, broken down my sensation. Alternatively, the organization could have been by anatomical structure. Pain is appropriate, but could have been included in central processing of touch/somatosensation or as a special chapter at the end.

The organization of the motor section didn’t make particular sense to me either. Spinal control, planning of movement, basal ganglia, and execution of movement seems somewhat random. An order that would like assist a student would trace the pathways from the goal oriented or sensory system elicited behavior from the frontal lobe (or other area) to the distal neuromuscular junction. A chapter could be focused on each section, from planning, to the non cerebral brain structures, through the spinal cord, to the junction. There are probably other functional based organization schemas that could be justified.

In the behavior, a third level of organization below Section and Chapter would have been useful. A few chapters seemed to just be continuations of the chapter before it rather than presenting a new chapter of information. e.g. HPA Axis. Additionally, the topics in this section seem to be somewhat random. Are they based on clinically useful information? Most prominent addressed in bench research?

Interface rating: 5

This is definitely one of the text's strengths. I previously mentioned the use of graphics, animations, and mini-lectures. These are used expertly to support students learning and work well in different formats and on different devices. The text was easy to navigate in the interface, both with the "next" and "previous" buttons and the table of contents.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No real grammatical errors noticed. There were a few stylistic errors, like inconsistent capitalization with headlines.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

No insensitive or culturally offensive language or media included.

Comments

Overall this text is an impressive work. The only areas that I would recommend improving are the flow and organization in the sensory and motor sections and including a few more pertinent ares of functional neuroscience. Thank you for the opportunity to view your OER text through the hard work you have done as authors!

Reviewed by Beth Mechlin, Associate Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience, Earlham College on 12/20/23

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This book has a lot of breadth and includes the vast majority of the topics that are important for an Introduction to Neuroscience course. I do, however, wish that it included a section on evolution and more information about some psychological disorders.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

All of the information seems correct to me. I did not notice any inaccuracies in the content.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

The content in this book is fairly current. It includes relevant information for a variety of topics. However, neuroscience is a quickly changing field, and there are some sections that would be strengthened with updates (such as the Alzheimer's section). The organization of this book does seem to make it easy for content to be updated.

Clarity rating: 5

This book is well-written so that the content is accessible to undergraduate students.

Consistency rating: 5

Each section has a similar organization and flow to it, which helps with readability.

Modularity rating: 5

This text is incredibly modular. It is organized in such a way that it is very easy to assign short sections about specific topics for students to read. I found this to be incredibly helpful and useful for my course. The modularity of this book is one of its greatest strengths.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

The textbook is generally organized well. However, there are some topics that I would group together or order differently. However, the text is also very modular, which allows the instructor to deliver material in their preferred order quite easily.

Interface rating: 5

The interface and display are great.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I did not notice any grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 3

I do not think this book is insensitive or offensive in anyway. However, I think there are some topics that could have a larger cultural focus. For example, the sections related to sex could include more information about gender identity and sexual orientation.

Comments

I think this is a great open-source Introduction to Neuroscience textbook. I recently used it for one of my courses and thought that it worked great. I really appreciate the modular organization of the textbook. There are a few topics that I think are not covered as much as they should be, but it is easy to supplement this textbook with other materials.

Reviewed by Shekoofe Saadat, Visiting Assistant Professor, Drake University on 12/12/23

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

Considering the book is an introduction to neuroscience, it covers the main topics that a reader needs to know about the basics of neuroscience. Each topic is explained in an appropriate depth that provides the learner with fundamental information without going into a lot of details that would distance the book from being an introductory book.
In additions, links are provided for further referencing.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The presented content holds a good level of accuracy.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The content covers the fundamentals of neuroscience in a way that regardless of its age, it presents valuable content. The flow of content allows for more up-to-date information to be added while maintaining the flow of the content.

Clarity rating: 5

It is easy to read through the text and follow along the flow of the content. The simple language allows for a learner with no previous knowledge to be able to read the book without problems. At the same time while easy to read, technical terms are introduced in an effective manner that guides the reader along.

Consistency rating: 5

I did not observe any inconsistencies.

Modularity rating: 5

The author has done a great job of breaking the content into multiple sections and several smaller subsections to provide an organized outline for the reader to step through.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

As mentioned in the modularity section, the content is presented in an organized structure.

Interface rating: 5

The interface is easy to use and it is straightforward to navigate through various sections.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No grammar errors were found.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

No insensitivities were observed.

Comments

The book is a great resource for introducing the concepts of neuroscience and it serves as an effective first step in the path of learning about neuroscience. Content is presented in a logical and easy to follow manner.