The simulation theatre: a means to enhanced learning in the 21st century

The increasing role of simulation in medical education has paralleled advancement of this technology. Full environment simulation (FES) can be employed to effectively replicate rare medical catastrophes with exacting realism. It has been suggested that emotion can significantly enhance learning by producing memories that are processed and stored via the amygdaloid complex which is relatively impervious to extinction and thus forgetting. Theoretically the addition of emotional content to simulated crises during FES can be used to affect such changes in the participants and thus facilitate learning. We discuss the theoretic benefit and the use of FES with emotional enhancement as it relates to improved memory and learning.