Musical Talent and Surgical Skills: Does Playing an Instrument Help With Surgical Ability?

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Skills
• Cognitive Neuroscience

Background:

• Musical training and surgical practice share demands on fine motor control and cognitive abilities.
• Investigating the link between musical experience and surgical aptitude is crucial for understanding transferable skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review existing literature on the association between musical instrument playing and surgical aptitude.
• To evaluate the impact of shared motor and cognitive skills on surgical performance.

Main Methods:

• A narrative review of published studies was conducted.
• PubMed was searched for English-language studies from inception to February 2025, focusing on surgical skills assessments.
• 23 studies involving 1641 participants were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Nearly half (47.8%) of the studies found a significant positive association between musical training and surgical aptitude.
• Reported benefits included improved dexterity, precision, and task efficiency.
• However, results were inconsistent due to varied definitions, assessment tools, and reliance on simulations.

Conclusions:

• The evidence linking musical experience to surgical performance is currently inconclusive.
• While musical training may foster relevant fine motor and visuospatial skills, it's not a definitive predictor of surgical aptitude.
• Further research with standardized methodologies and objective assessments is needed.