Page 216 - Read Online

Page 6 of 8 Riaz et al. Mini-invasive Surg 2018;2:28 I http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2574-1225.2018.41

1.75 Control
Mental training

1.50
x = P > 0.05 vs. Control

Baseline task (kg) 1.25

1.00

0.75

0.50

Dominat Non-dominat

Hand
Figure 6. Mean ± sem baseline task (kg), control vs. mental training, 95% CI

DISCUSSION
Mental training has been shown to affect the way the brain distributes its workload. It increases
performance in athletes and is an effective adjunct to training programmes for fighter pilots. Anecdotal
evidence suggests that more experienced surgeons conduct informal mental training prior to starting a
[2]
laparoscopic procedure . Rehearsal in the mind involves recreating the environment of the surgical field.
This includes reconstructing visual, auditory, and tactile feedback as expected throughout the procedure [3]
Mental reconstruction of procedural conditions allows recollection of past experiences, which alert them
[4]
to challenging areas of the operation. This instils an anticipatory attitude prior to starting the procedure .
Studies have noted that visual instrument-tissue interaction was easier to mentally reconstruct than tactile
[5]
or haptic interactions felt when applying traction to tissue .
Results from this study revealed that the baseline scores for mental training group were similar to control
group [Figure 6]. Candidates who conducted mental training had better precision than those who did not
(0.66 ± 0.04 vs. 1.06 ± 0.14, P = 0.01 for dominant hand and 0.73 ± 0.04 vs. 1.10 ± 0.20, P = 0.04 for non-
dominant hand), when compared with control group [Table 1]. Lower standard error of mean implied that
the study group was more consistent in determining the target force than the control. This may be the
result of a combination of conducting the mental training in addition to remembering the instructions
given at the beginning of the session which encourages the participant to treat the equipment as in a real
patient.

Dissimilar to control group where participants had a brief shift of focus, the mental training group
heightened their vigilance against applying excessive traction. This advocated that mental training allowed
candidates to evaluate their actions prior to applying the force. It also suggested that their self-evaluations