Utilizing transcranial direct current stimulation to enhance laparoscopic technical skills training: A randomized...

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Medical Education
• Brain Stimulation

Background:

• Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive technique modulating cortical excitability.
• tDCS has potential applications in enhancing motor learning and surgical skill acquisition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of tDCS in accelerating laparoscopic skill acquisition.
• To compare active tDCS with sham tDCS in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Main Methods:

• Sixty subjects were randomized to receive sham or active tDCS (bilateral primary motor cortex or supplementary motor area).
• Participants practiced the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) Peg Transfer Task during six 20-min training blocks.
• Laparoscopic skill performance was assessed by completion time and error-based scores.

Main Results:

• The bilateral primary motor cortex (bM1) tDCS group showed significantly greater performance improvement than the sham group.
• The bM1 group achieved similar learning gains in fewer training blocks compared to the sham group.
• While the supplementary motor area (SMA) group showed improvement, it was not statistically significant compared to sham.

Conclusions:

• Active bilateral tDCS significantly enhanced learning of laparoscopic skills compared to sham stimulation.
• tDCS shows potential for augmenting surgical skill training, warranting further investigation.