Top 10 Free Websites & Apps Every Neurology Resident Needs (2025 Toolkit)

Neurology residency is a race against time.

Between managing stroke codes, surviving 24-hour calls, and preparing for the RITE® exam, you rarely have the luxury of sitting down with a 500-page textbook. When you are standing in the ER at 3 AM with a complex patient, you need answers fast. You need tools that are accurate, accessible, and most importantly “free”.

While every resident knows about UpToDate, there is a hidden ecosystem of high-yield websites that can save you during a tough consult or a tricky board question.

We have curated the ultimate digital toolkit for the modern neurology resident. From the “nice-to-have” daily updates to the “legendary” lifesavers, here are the top 10 free resources you need to bookmark immediately, ranked from useful to absolutely essential.

10. Medscape Neurology

The “Daily Newspaper”

Starting our countdown is a resource you likely already know, but often underutilize. Medscape is the “morning coffee” of the medical world. While it may not help you localize a brainstem lesion, it is unbeatable for keeping up with the rapid pace of neurology news.

• Why you need it: It provides concise drug dosing, interaction checkers, and quick summaries of new FDA approvals (like the latest Alzheimer’s therapies).

• Resident Tip: Sign up for their specialized neurology newsletter. It’s the easiest way to stay informed about major trials without doing the research yourself.

• Visit: medscape.com/neurology

9. AAN eLearning & NeuroBytes

The “Official Word”

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) is our mothership, and their free educational resources are surprisingly digestible. Even if you aren’t a paying member yet, they offer a selection of free content that is gold standard quality.

• Why you need it: Their “NeuroBytes” are short, high-yield videos (often 2-5 minutes) that cover a single concept perfectly. It is bite-sized learning designed for busy schedules.

• Resident Tip: Watch a NeuroByte on a topic before you start a rotation (e.g., “Movement Disorders”) to get the vocabulary down fast.

• Visit: aan.com/education

8. EyeWiki (AAO)

The “Consult Saver”

Let’s be honest: the fundoscopic exam is intimidating. When ophthalmology isn’t available, the neurology resident is often the expert in the room for the optic nerve. EyeWiki, maintained by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, is your secret weapon.

• Why you need it: It explains complex neuro-ophthalmology concepts like “Papilledema vs. Pseudopapilledema” or “Ischemic Optic Neuropathy” in bullet points, not paragraphs.

• Resident Tip: Use their high-resolution images to compare with what you are seeing in your patient’s eye. It can confirm your suspicion of optic neuritis in seconds.

• Visit: eyewiki.org

7. ICHD-3 (International Classification of Headache Disorders)

The “Law Book”

Headache medicine is not about guessing; it is about criteria. You cannot diagnose “Migraine with Aura” just because it “sounds like it.” You need to meet the strict criteria set by the International Headache Society.

• Why you need it: This website is the criteria. It is the digital version of the “Headache Bible.”

• Resident Tip: When writing your clinic note, copy and paste the specific criteria from ICHD-3 into your assessment. It justifies your diagnosis and makes your documentation bulletproof for insurance and attendings.

• Visit: ichd-3.org

6. The University of Utah “NeuroLogic Exam”

The “Video Coach”

Textbooks can describe “spasticity” or “cogwheeling” for pages, but you will never truly understand it until you see it. The University of Utah’s NeuroLogic Exam website is the internet’s premier video library for clinical skills.

• Why you need it: It features hundreds of clear video clips demonstrating normal and abnormal exam findings.

• Resident Tip: Forgot how to test for a specific reflex or assess a comatose patient? Watch the 30-second clip on your phone before walking into the patient’s room.

• Visit: neurologicexam.med.utah.edu

5. LearningEEG.com

The “Translator”

For PGY-2s, the EEG rotation is often the most terrifying month of the year. Squiggly lines that look like chaos? LearningEEG brings order to that chaos.

• Why you need it: It uses a module-based approach to teach you EEG from scratch. It starts with “Basics” and moves to “Artifacts” and “Seizures” with interactive examples.

• Resident Tip: Don’t wait for your Epilepsy rotation. Spend 15 minutes a week on this site during your PGY-1 year, and you will look like a rockstar when you finally reach the reading room.

• Visit: learningeeg.com

4. NeurologyResidents.com

The “Cheat Sheet”

The name says it all. This site was built by residents, for residents. It cuts out the academic fluff and gives you the raw, high-yield facts you need to survive call.

• Why you need it: It organizes information by “Chief Complaint.” Patient has a stroke? Click “Stroke.” Patient has status epilepticus? Click “Seizures.”

• Resident Tip: Their “Localization” guides are legendary for helping you pinpoint a lesion before the MRI is even ordered.

• Visit: neurologyresidents.com

3. Neuroanatomy.ca (UBC)

The “Stroke Magician”

We are entering the top tier now. Neuroanatomy.ca, created by the University of British Columbia, is arguably the best interactive neuroanatomy tool on the web.

• Why you need it: The “Stroke Model” is a masterpiece. You can click on a specific blood vessel (e.g., the Superior Division of the MCA), and the 3D brain lights up to show exactly which tissue dies and what symptoms the patient will have.

• Resident Tip: Use this to teach medical students on your team. It makes complex vascular anatomy instantly understandable.

• Visit: neuroanatomy.ca

2. Neuromuscular Disease Center (WUSTL)

The “Bible” of Muscle & Nerve

If you land on this page, you might think you’ve traveled back to 1998. Do not be fooled by the retro design. This website, maintained by Washington University in St. Louis, is the single most comprehensive database of neuromuscular disease on the planet.

• Why you need it: It lists every antibody, every phenotype, and every genetic mutation known to man. When you have a “mystery patient” with weakness and don’t know what to test for, WUSTL has the answer.

• Resident Tip: Use the “Search” function for specific antibodies (like Anti-Jo-1 or Anti-MuSK) to see the exact clinical presentation associated with them.

• Visit: neuromuscular.wustl.edu

1. Radiopaedia

The “Daily Lifesaver”

Here it is. The undisputed King of free medical resources. Radiopaedia is the tool you will use not just weekly, but likely every single day of your residency.

• Why you need it: Real life doesn’t look like a textbook. Radiopaedia shows you thousands of real cases—messy scans, subtle findings, and rare pathologies.

• Resident Tip: Search for “Neurology Resident Teaching” playlists. They allow you to scroll through full MRI sequences (T1, T2, FLAIR) just like a PACS workstation, training your eye to spot pathology that static images miss.

• Visit: radiopaedia.org

 Free Download: The Resident’s Survival Checklist (PDF)

These 10 websites are essential, but there are 4 “Secret” Specialist Tools that are too advanced for the general list—including the “Hidden Video Library” of rare eye movements and the “Advanced Wiki” for complex EEG artifacts.

I have compiled all 14 resources (The Top 10 + The 4 Secrets) into a single, one-page Resident Survival Checklist PDF.

Save it to your phone so you have your entire digital toolkit ready for rounds, even when the hospital Wi-Fi is down.

[Download the Free 2025 Toolkit PDF Here]