Utilizing Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation to Enhance Laparoscopic Technical Skills Training
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Healthy Studies |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Other |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - Any |
| Updated: | 1/19/2019 |
| Start Date: | April 1, 2017 |
| End Date: | December 21, 2017 |
The purpose of this study is to test the influences of transcranial direct current
stimulation (tDCS) on the acquisition of laparoscopic surgical skills. For this purpose, the
investigator will compare variants of tDCS in the first of 2 experiments. The second arm of
the trial will investigate gaze training in a similar study design. These questions will be
evaluated using the validated Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) module 1, with the
overall goal of developing a surgical training curriculum that achieves expert level skill in
an expedited timeframe. This research provides a novel approach to general surgery training
that has the potential to reduce the amount of time and repetitions required to achieve
expert laparoscopic skills.
stimulation (tDCS) on the acquisition of laparoscopic surgical skills. For this purpose, the
investigator will compare variants of tDCS in the first of 2 experiments. The second arm of
the trial will investigate gaze training in a similar study design. These questions will be
evaluated using the validated Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) module 1, with the
overall goal of developing a surgical training curriculum that achieves expert level skill in
an expedited timeframe. This research provides a novel approach to general surgery training
that has the potential to reduce the amount of time and repetitions required to achieve
expert laparoscopic skills.
Developing expert performance requires assessment of the thought processes underlying
performance and continued refinement of skills in order to obtain automaticity and intuition.
Therefore, developing expert surgical skill is a process likely to take longer than the
length of residency, thereby diminishing the quality of care delivered to patients.
The proposed study will implement novel neuroscience techniques of transcranial direct
current stimulation to determine if it has the capacity to accelerate technical surgical
skill learning in order to achieve competency and expertise in an earlier timeframe. tDCS is
a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that delivers constant, low current stimulation
via electrodes placed on the scalp to modify cortical excitability in an area of interest.
When applied to the motor cortex, promising data indicates that tDCS-induced changes lead to
expedited recovery in stroke patients as well as enhanced learning in healthy individuals.
This technique has never been applied in the training of surgical residents making this
project an innovative approach to enhance skill development.
Experiment 1: Determine if tDCS can accelerate the learning of laparoscopic skills.
In this experiment the investigators will compare behavioral learning curves from FLS modules
1 and 5 in three cohorts who undergo either active tDCS to the bilateral motor cortex
(bilateral configuration), active tDCS to the supplementary motor cortex (SMA configuration),
or sham tDCS (half in each configuration). This will be tested in groups of 20 participants
who train for 40-minutes in each of 6 sessions that occur within 3 weeks. The investigators
hypothesize that both active bilateral and SMA tDCS will lead to faster skill acquisition as
measured by trials required to gain proficient completion scores (calculated as time plus
errors), relative to sham.
The investigators hypothesize that both bilateral and vertex tDCS will lead to faster skill
acquisition, with bilateral greater than vertex as measured by trials required to gain
proficient module completion scores, relative to the group of participants who practice
without active tDCS.
performance and continued refinement of skills in order to obtain automaticity and intuition.
Therefore, developing expert surgical skill is a process likely to take longer than the
length of residency, thereby diminishing the quality of care delivered to patients.
The proposed study will implement novel neuroscience techniques of transcranial direct
current stimulation to determine if it has the capacity to accelerate technical surgical
skill learning in order to achieve competency and expertise in an earlier timeframe. tDCS is
a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that delivers constant, low current stimulation
via electrodes placed on the scalp to modify cortical excitability in an area of interest.
When applied to the motor cortex, promising data indicates that tDCS-induced changes lead to
expedited recovery in stroke patients as well as enhanced learning in healthy individuals.
This technique has never been applied in the training of surgical residents making this
project an innovative approach to enhance skill development.
Experiment 1: Determine if tDCS can accelerate the learning of laparoscopic skills.
In this experiment the investigators will compare behavioral learning curves from FLS modules
1 and 5 in three cohorts who undergo either active tDCS to the bilateral motor cortex
(bilateral configuration), active tDCS to the supplementary motor cortex (SMA configuration),
or sham tDCS (half in each configuration). This will be tested in groups of 20 participants
who train for 40-minutes in each of 6 sessions that occur within 3 weeks. The investigators
hypothesize that both active bilateral and SMA tDCS will lead to faster skill acquisition as
measured by trials required to gain proficient completion scores (calculated as time plus
errors), relative to sham.
The investigators hypothesize that both bilateral and vertex tDCS will lead to faster skill
acquisition, with bilateral greater than vertex as measured by trials required to gain
proficient module completion scores, relative to the group of participants who practice
without active tDCS.
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Age >18 years, healthy male and female
2. Negative urine pregnancy test for female participants
3. Willing and able to provide informed consent
4. Able to follow study procedures
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Indwelling metallic implants
2. Neurological or psychiatric medical history
3. Drug or alcohol abuse
4. Current or prior brain tumor
5. Current or prior seizures
6. Neuroactive medications
7. Current pregnancy
8. Damage, rash, or skin lesion in area of electrode placement
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