Neuroanatomical correlates of laparoscopic surgery training

Better understanding of the brain regions involved in performing laparoscopic surgery is likely to provide important insights for improving laparoscopic training and assessment in the future. To our knowledge, this is the first study using real Fundamentals of Laparoscopy Training (FLS)-based laparoscopic surgery training tasks in the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) environment to provide extensive characterization of the brain regions involved in this specific task execution.

Nine right-handed subjects practiced five FLS-modified laparoscopic surgery-training tasks with a training box for ten sessions in a simulated fMRI environment. Following the last practice session, they underwent 3 T fMRI while performing each task.

An increase in the extent of brain activation was observed as the complexity of the tasks increased. Activation in the precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, and premotor regions was observed in the performance of all tasks, whereas the superior parietal lobe (SPL) was activated in the more complex tasks. The mean score and brain activation for performance with the dominant hand were larger than those observed during performance with the non-dominant hand.

Performing more complex tasks requires higher visual spatial ability and motor planning. Given the need for ambidextrous skills during laparoscopic tasks, the finding that lower scores and smaller brain recruitment occurred in executing tasks with the non-dominant hand than with the dominant hand suggests designing future training tasks to train the non-dominant hand more effectively. This may serve to improve overall performance in bi-manual tasks. Studies of this kind may facilitate the evidence-based development of strategies to improve the quality of laparoscopy training and assessment.