Investigating the impact of gaming and spatial cognition on laparoscopic surgical skills

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to examine the association between video gaming experience, spatial cognition, and laparoscopic surgical skills in a cohort of 50 medical students.MethodParticipants were assessed for video gaming experience, spatial cognition, and laparoscopic skills. The number of hours played per week was also recorded. Structural equation modeling was used to determine the relationship between these variables.ResultsOur findings revealed that video gaming experience and spatial cognition exerted a positive influence on laparoscopic skills. Interestingly, students who excessively indulged in video games without concomitant improvements in spatial cognition experienced a negative impact on their laparoscopic skills.ConclusionsThese findings underscore the potential of video gaming as a tool for improving surgical skills, but also highlight the potential downsides of excessive gaming. The positive correlation between gaming and surgical skills suggests that video games could be integrated into surgical education. Future research should focus on identifying specific video games that effectively promote visuospatial skills as well as determining the optimal balance between gaming and traditional surgical training.