The Impact of Gamification on Neuroanatomy Education

Neuroanatomy is a critical, yet notoriously difficult, subject in medical education, essential for linking complex neural pathways to clinical signs and symptoms. Traditional pedagogical methods often struggle to convey the intricate three-dimensional nature of the nervous system, leading to student anxiety and poor long-term knowledge retention. Our project focuses on investigating the impact of integrating gamified learning activities (including collaborative escape rooms, physical puzzle-based games, and simulated anatomy ward rounds) into the neuroanatomy curriculum. We aim to quantitatively and qualitatively assess how these active learning methods influence not only student engagement and confidence but also their short- and long-term knowledge retention and the development of crucial clinical reasoning skills.