Neural correlates of laparoscopic training: a preliminary study

Minimally invasive surgery involves complex hand-eye coordination, dexterity, and depth perception skills that require extensive training. This pilot study aims to characterize the electrophysiological (EEG) activity associated with laparoscopic surgery training. Sixteen participants, without prior laparoscopic experience, performed a hand-eye coordination task using a simulator. The task involved moving 50 spheres between two compartments using sensorized laparoscopic tools to monitor hand usage and movement time. On a cohort of nine subjects, we collected high-density EEG and analysed oscillatory activity in the theta (4-8 Hz), alpha (8-14 Hz), and beta (15-25 Hz) frequency ranges. Preliminary results indicated that participants choose which hand to use based on the movement direction; this was associated with theta power differences during movement preparation. Additionally, practice affected frontal and right parietal regions of the brain in the theta and beta ranges, particularly when the movement direction changed. These results provide insights into the processes associated with laparoscopic training and set the ground for future studies aimed at investigating laparoscopic learning to ultimately optimize surgical training programs.Clinical relevance- This study lays the first steps for integrating EEG metrics into laparoscopic training, potentially enabling objective assessments of skill acquisition and performance for surgical trainees.