Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 16, 2025
Evaluating Flight Performance and Eye Movement Patterns Using Virtual Reality Flight Simulator
Published on: May 19, 2023
Baseline characteristics in laparoscopic simulator performance: The impact of personal computer (PC)-gaming
Ninos Oussi1,2,3, Petra Renman4, Konstantinos Georgiou5
1Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC), Division of Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Background:
Learning via simulators is under constant development, and it is important to further optimize simulator training curricula. This study investigates the impact of personal computer-gaming experience, visuospatial skills, and repetitive training on laparoscopic simulator performance and specifically on the constituent parameters of the simulator score.
Methods:
Forty-seven medical students completed 3 consecutive Minimally Invasive Surgical Trainer-Virtual Reality simulator trials. Previously, they performed a visuospatial test and completed a questionnaire regarding baseline characteristics and personal computer-gaming experience. Linear regression was used to analyze the relationship between simulator performance and type of personal computer-gaming experience and visuospatial ability.
Results:
During the first 2 Minimally Invasive Surgical Trainer-Virtual Reality simulation tasks, there was an association between personal computer-gaming experience and the coordination parameters of the score (eg, EconDiath task 1: P = .0047; EconDiath task 2: P = .0102; EconDiath task 3: P = .0836). The type of game category played seemed to have an impact on the coordination parameters (eg, EconDiath task 1-3 for sport games versus no-sport games: P = .01, P = .0013, and P = .01, respectively). In the first Minimally Invasive Surgical Trainer task, visuospatial ability correlated with Minimally Invasive Surgical Trainer simulator performance but was abolished with repetitive training (overall Minimally Invasive Surgical Trainer score task 1-3: P = .0122, P = .0991, and P = .3506, respectively). Sex-specific differences were noted initially but were abolished with training.
Conclusion:
Sport games versus no-sport games demonstrated a significantly better Minimally Invasive Surgical Trainer performance. Furthermore, repetitive laparoscopic simulator training may compensate for a previous lack of personal computer-gaming experience, low visuospatial ability, and sex differences.
