I’ve been trying to use machine learning tools (AI, Large Language Models and Transformer Language Models) to see if they could help me teaching anatomy and embryology. Would you like to see what I found?
Sceptical
It’s healthy to be sceptical.
Study
The anatomy labs are for students to study in as well as teach in. Students that are enrolled in courses in Swansea University that we teach anatomy to have access so here is a tour. Also a bit of AI, large language models and the evolution of the nervous system.
See also:
Glen R. D. Elliott, Sally P. Leys; Evidence for glutamate, GABA and NO in coordinating behaviour in the sponge, Ephydatia muelleri (Demospongiae, Spongillidae). J Exp Biol 1 July 2010; 213 (13): 2310–2321. doi: https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.039859
Martín-Durán J. M., Hejnol, A. A developmental perspective on the evolution of the nervous system. Developmental Biology 2021; 475: 181-192. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2019.10.003
Zakon H. H. Adaptive evolution of voltage-gated sodium channels: The first 800 million years. PNAS June 22, 2012 109 (supplement_1): 10619-10625. doi: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1201884109
The hardest thing
YouTube has changed over the the last 10 years. How do you get on, should you get on, and why do you want to get on?
The future of anatomy study
Technology is moving along and I have a few ideas for the future of anatomy study.
Knees 2.0
Dave Graham-Woollard came up with this idea of creating knees with ligaments that could be loosened to demonstrate the role of each ligment in a different form of stbility of the knee. We 3D printed knees and used nylon cord with detachable toggles to simulate the ligaments. After feedback from students this year I’ve been working on version 2.0 for the next knee anatomy week.
Student feedback
How do I know if we’re doing a good job?
No internet!
What do we do? Unexpected jobs and problems are always appearing. How do we fit them into the rest of our lives?
5 things I say to new medical students
It’s the time of year when new medical students start their courses. It’s an exciting and maybe a daunting time, so here are a few of the things that I tell new students when they pop into my office for a chat. Also Baldur’s Gate 3.
Evaluation for kicks
The other study I presented last week was what students told me about the knee model we 3D printed with cord for ligaments that can be released to simulate injury.