Effects of transcranial direct-current stimulation on laparoscopic surgical skill acquisition.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Changes in medical education may limit opportunities for trainees to gain proficiency in surgical skills. Transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) can augment motor skill learning and may enhance surgical procedural skill acquisition. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of tDCS on simulation-based laparoscopic surgical skill acquisition.

Methods

In this double-blind, sham-controlled randomized trial, participants were randomized to receive 20 min of anodal tDCS or sham stimulation over the dominant primary motor cortex, concurrent with Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery simulation-based training. Primary outcomes of laparoscopic pattern-cutting and peg transfer tasks were scored at baseline, during repeated performance over 1 h, and again at

SUBMITTER: Ciechanski P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5989997 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature