Effects of Transcranial Direct-Current Stimulation on Neurosurgical Skill Acquisition: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

摘要: Background Recent changes in surgical training environments may have limited opportunities for trainees to gain proficiency skill. Complex skills such as neurosurgery require extended periods of training. Methods enhance are required overcome duty-hour restrictions, ensure the acquisition skill proficiency. Transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) can motor learning, but is untested procedural We aimed determine effects tDCS on simulation-based neurosurgical acquisition. Medical students were trained acquire tumor resection using a virtual reality simulator. The primary outcome change was scored at baseline, over 8 repetitions, post-training, and again 6 weeks. Participants received anodal or sham cortex. Secondary outcomes included brain resected, effectiveness, duration excessive forces (EF) applied, efficiency. Additional tolerability. Results Twenty-two consented participate, with no dropouts course trial. receiving intervention increased amount effectiveness resection, reduced EF improved Little decay observed weeks both groups. No adverse events documented, sensation severity did not differ between Conclusions addition environment. Trials additional high-skill residents, translation nonsimulated performance needed potential utility