L.E.A.P. into Action! Four mnemonics for teaching action potentials and polarizing ions in the neuron to health professions students

Human physiology is a prerequisite to pathophysiology for baccalaureate of nursing sciences students and requisite for undergraduate exercise sciences students, in an undergraduate health sciences curriculum of Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Division. This is the first human physiology course required for these first-year students (following anatomy); as such, methods to help students memorize these newly introduced topics during lecture were key. Here we examine the efficacy of mnemonics in an undergraduate health professions human physiology course. During lectures on the nervous system, cell membrane, and action potentials, the author integrated four mnemonics to assist students in memorizing the details of these topics. Student participants ( n  = 123) completed an anonymous and voluntary qualitative survey. Their responses to the mnemonics survey indicated an overall positive rate ≥ 93% of self-reported effectiveness in memorizing these physiological concepts.