The sensitive man: an interactive computer program to teach cutaneous nerves, dermatomes, and sensory testing

Abstract

To understand the rationale for sensory testing, a common step in the diagnosis of neurological deficits, students must know the pathways from the skin to the sensory cortex and understand how a pattern of abnormal sensation correlates with a central or peripheral lesion. Students often have difficulty in learning dermatomes, cutaneous nerve maps and neuronal pathways and in applying that knowledge to clinical situations. The Sensitive Man is an interactive computer program which addresses these learning goals. The program has four modules: a teaching module with the image of a man that when clicked with a cotton swab or pin cursor displays the cutaneous nerve field and pathway to the sensory cortex, a teaching module with detailed information on the CNS pathways showing animated central neurons, a knowledge testing module which displays a dermatome or cutaneous nerve for identification, and a clinical testing module designed to facilitate the students' problem‐solving skills through testing of a virtual patient. The program was designed using Poser Pro (SmithMicro) and Director (Adobe) software. Students who have beta‐tested modules of the program indicated in a questionnaire that its interactive nature and the visualization of the nerve pathways helped them remember the material. A controlled trial of the program is planned in order to determine its impact on student learning outcomes. This work was funded by the Alabama State Department of University Physical Therapy.