title: Proposal for research and education: joint lectures and practicals on central nervous system anatomy and physiology.
abstract: We coordinated anatomy and physiology lectures and practicals to facilitate an integrated understanding of morphology and function in a basic medical science program for dental students and to reduce the time spent on basic science education. This method is a means to provide the essential information and skills in less time. The overall impression was that the practice of joint central nervous system lectures and practicals was an efficient method for students, which suggests that joint lectures might also be useful for clinical subjects. About two-thirds of students felt that the joint anatomy and physiology lecture on the central nervous system was useful and necessary in understanding the relationship between morphology and function, at least for this subject. One-third of students were neutral on the effectiveness of this method. However, the survey results suggest that improvements are needed in the method and timing of joint lectures and practicals. The present teaching approach can be further improved by conducting combined lectures in which the form and function of anatomic structures are presented by the relevant departments during the same lecture. Finally, joint lecturers and practicals offer an opportunity to increase student understanding of the importance of new research findings by the present authors and other researchers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, The Nippon Dental University School of Life Dentistry at Niigata, 1-8 Hamaura-Cho, Chuo-ku, Niigata, 951-8580, Japan.
authors.forename: Ikuo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kageyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, The Nippon Dental University School of Life Dentistry at Niigata, 1-8 Hamaura-Cho, Chuo-ku, Niigata, 951-8580, Japan.
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, The Nippon Dental University School of Life Dentistry at Niigata, 1-8 Hamaura-Cho, Chuo-Ku, Niigata, 951-8580, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihide
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, 20400, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Chinthani D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Nanayakkara
authors.affiliation: Division of Physiology, Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, 20400, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Ranjith W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Pallegama
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, The Nippon Dental University School of Life Dentistry at Niigata, 1-8 Hamaura-Cho, Chuo-Ku, Niigata, 951-8580, Japan. iwasaki@ngt.ndu.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Shin-Ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
mesh_terms: D003479:Curriculum; D006801:Humans; D009445:Neuroanatomy / Q000193:education*; D009482:Neurophysiology / Q000193:education*; D013335:Students, Dental
keywords: Anatomy; Basic medical science; Central nervous system; Dental students; Joint lectures; Physiology; Practicals