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The National Undergraduate

Neuroanatomy Competition

On this page, you will find some generic information about the NUNC. For more details, please
see the page for the upcoming competition by clicking here (NUNC-2018.php). If you have any
questions, please check our FAQ page (faq.php), and if that doesn't answer your question, drop
us an email at natneurocomp@gmail.com (mailto:natneurocomp@gmail.com). This page was
last updated 28/10/2017.

The NUNC is an annual competition open to all medical students in the UK and Ireland. It first
started in 2013, and has since run annually at the University of Southampton, and now attracts
over 100 students.
 WHAT DOES THE COMPETITION INVOLVE?
The NUNC has 3 main components:

1) A neuroanatomy spotter examination

2) A clinically-orientated multiple-choice examination

3) A series of talks from on aspects of neuroscience

NEUROANATOMY SPOTTER MULTIPLE-CHOICE EXAMINATION

The neuroanatomy spotter consists of 42
stations, each with 2 questions. 1 minute per
station. Students will be asked to identify
neuroanatomical structures on cadaveric
specimens. There will also be questions on
neuroimaging.
This is a 60 question Single Best Answer (SBA)
examination for which you have 70 minutes.
Each question has 5 possible answers. These
questions will test your ability to apply your
neuroanatomical knowledge to clinical
scenarios.

Below is a sample question. Below is a sample question.

(resources/asl.jpg) (resources/sam4.jpg) (resources/LT2.jpg) (resources/sam2.jpg)

CATEGORIES
There are two categories: Clinical and Pre-clinical. If you have not yet started your full-time
clinical placements at medical school, you will be considered a pre-clinical student. Everybody
takes the same examinations, regardless of which category you fall into.You are only scored
against other people in your category.

HOW IS IT SCORED?
The spotter exam consists of 42-stations, each of which has 2 questions. Each question is worth
2 marks. 1 mark is awarded for partially correct answers. The maximum score for the spotter
paper is 168.
 The MCQ exam consists of 60-questions. Each question is worth 1 mark. The maximum score
for the MCQ paper is 60.

The exams are equally weighted. The scores are accumulated to give an overall score.

For each of the two categories, clinical and pre-clinical, the winner and runner-up will receive a
prize.Students who perform in the top 10% will receive a distinction certificate to recognise
their performance.

Following the competition, you will receive an email with your individual results, ranking and
descriptive statistics for the cohort for those who aim to use the competition as an opportunity
to build upon and develop their learning techniques, and also to those who aim to compete to
gauge their performance against other competitors confidentially.

TALKS
In the afternoon, when you have completed the two examinations, there will be two talks from
our guest speakers on a topic of neuroscience.

WHY COME ALONG?

We strive to make the NUNC a friendly and enjoyable event, and feedback from years gone past
has been exceptionally positive.

There are a number of reasons to come to the NUNC 2018. Alongside the exciting talks and
indulgent refreshments, there are prizes for the winner and runner-up for both the clinical and
pre-clinical category. Other students who also perform exceptionally well will be acknowledged
in a distinction category.

Coming to the NUNC will also give you the opportunity to demonstrate a commitment to the
neurosciences, demonstrate your ability in neuroanatomy, meet and network with likeminded
people, and see our exciting collection of neuroanatomical dissections.

REFRESHMENTS
Refreshments will be provided throughout the day, including a large selection of lunch followed
by cheese and wine.
 HOW DO I GET TO THE HOSPITAL?
The NUNC is held at the University Hospital Southampton, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16
6YD.

Driving
Driving: Southampton is easily accessible by the M3 and the M27. There are a few options for
parking. Firstly, you could park in the hospital carpark, although this is expensive. Up-to-date
parking costs can be found here (http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/Ourhospitals/SGH/Getting-here-and-
parking/ParkingatSouthamptonGeneralHospital/Parkingcharges.aspx). Alternatively, there are a
number of residential streets nearby that do not require a permit on a Saturday. These include
laundry road
(https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Laundry+Rd,+Southampton+SO16+6AN/@50.9319036,-
1.4397363,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x48747431ca55ecbb:0x2ff6021adf562771!8m2!3d5
0.9319036!4d-1.4375476) and dale valley road
(https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Dale+Valley+Rd,+Southampton+SO16+6QW/@50.93444
87,-1.4297423,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x4874743c69c81525:0x7546f3f40c708da6!8m2!
3d50.9344487!4d-1.4275536). Parking spaces can be limited, so please allow plenty of time to
find a space and walk to the hospital.

By Train
Train: Southampton has two main train stations: Southampton Airport Parkway and
Southampton Central. Many trains will stop at both. If you can, we advise you get off at
Southampton Airport Parkway.
From Southampton Airport Parkway, we offer a free shuttle bus service to and from the
hospital. You will be emailed about this in the weeks before the NUNC. The bus usually departs
the train station at 09.30am, and we aim to get you back to the station for 17.30pm although
we cannot guarantee.
From Southampton Central, you will need to get a bus or taxi. There is a large taxi rank outside
the train station. If you are going to get the bus, you will need to get the number 3 bus
(https://www.firstgroup.com/southampton/routes-and-maps/city-reds) from outside the train
station on the platform 1 side. This bus will take you directly to the hospital and takes
approximately 25 minutes.

By Air: Southampton Airport is a 5 minute walk to Southampton Airport Parkway train station.
We recommend you walk here and get the free shuttle bus service to and from the hospital.
You will be emailed about this in the weeks before the NUNC. The bus usually departs the train
station at 09.30am, and we aim to get you back to the station for 17.30pm although we cannot
guarantee.

WHERE IN THE HOSPITAL IS THE NUNC?

The NUNC is held outside of Lecture Theatre 1, Level B, South Academic Block.
From the main entrance, this is past M&S, right towards the lifts, a left immediately after the
lifts following the signs to the South Academic Block. You will then need to follow this corridor
before going down 1 level and following the signs for Lecture Theatre 1. The site maps for the
Southampton General Hospital can be found here
(http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/Ourhospitals/SGH/Site-map.aspx).

FEEDBACK
At the NUNC, we appreciate the value of feedback. After the event, you will receive an email
with a personalised certificate containing the following details;

• Your individual results for both the MCQ and spotter exams, and overall mark
• Your individual ranking relative to their category (clinical or pre-clinical)
• A histogram showing the distribution of results in deciles
• Descriptive statistics of the results of the whole cohort (mean, median, range, minimum and
maximum)

The feedback of statistical analysis and ranking provides competitors a guide to interpreting
their results, useful for those who aim to use the competition as an opportunity to build upon
and develop their learning techniques, and also to those who aim to compete to gauge their
performance against other competitors confidentially.

You will usually receive this email within 6 weeks of the competition.

REFUNDS
Refunds can usually be offered until 31/12. However, beyond this date, purchases in
preparation for the NUNC will have begun and therefore refunds will not be possible.

This website and its content is copyright of the National Neuroanatomy Competition - ©
National Neuroanatomy Competition 2018. All rights reserved.