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References: How Doctors Examine the Brain

  1. Introduction to the Neurologic Examination - Merck Manual Professional Edition - A clear overview of every part of the neurological exam, with linked pages on mental status, cranial nerves, strength, reflexes, sensation, and coordination. Written for clinicians, but readable for a motivated high school student who wants to see how real doctors do it.

  2. Stroke: Assess and Treat - National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NIH) - Explains how stroke is diagnosed (NIH Stroke Scale, CT, MRI) and treated (t-PA, clot removal). The best single source for why CT comes first and why "time is brain."

  3. Bell's Palsy - National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NIH) - Describes the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery of Bell's palsy, the facial nerve disorder in the MicroSim's second case. Useful for contrasting peripheral facial weakness with stroke.

  4. Computed Tomography (CT) - National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIH) - A plain-language explanation of how CT scanners build images from X-rays, what they're good for, and what to know about radiation.

  5. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIH) - Explains how magnets and radio waves create MRI images, why MRI shows soft tissue so well, its safety concerns, and a short note on fMRI.

  6. Nuclear Medicine - National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIH) - Covers PET scans and radioactive tracers such as FDG, including how they reveal the body's chemistry rather than its structure.

  7. Appendix A: Methods - OpenStax, Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) - A free, open textbook section on research methods, including fMRI and EEG. Good for seeing how these tools are used in research as well as in the clinic.

  8. Time is brain—quantified - Saver JL, Stroke, 2006 (PubMed) - The paper behind the estimate that a typical large-vessel ischemic stroke destroys about 1.9 million neurons per minute without treatment. A short read that shows why stroke teams move so fast.

  9. Intravenous tenecteplase compared with alteplase for acute ischaemic stroke in Canada (AcT) - Menon BK et al., The Lancet, 2022 (PubMed) - The randomized trial that found tenecteplase worked about as well as alteplase, supporting its 2025 FDA approval for acute ischemic stroke. A real example of how clinical trials change treatment.

  10. Competition - International Brain Bee - Describes the parts of the international competition, including the patient diagnosis section where students watch patient videos and choose diagnostic tests. Check your own regional or national rules, which may differ.