[What surgeons can learn from athletes and fighter pilots - mental training in surgery]

Performing surgery requires the execution of fine-tuned motor skills, as well as cognitive decision-making processes, much like the demands elite athletes or fighter pilots are facing. Mental training is used successfully in those fields, and according to research it can also be highly effective in surgical training, both for enhancing cognitive abilities and acquisition of technical skills. Therefore, mental training could be a valuable complement in surgical training, both for novices and more experienced surgeons.