Characterizing robotic surgical expertise: An exploratory study of neural activation during mental imagery of robotic suturing.
BACKGROUND
Mental imagery (MI) aids skill acquisition, however, it is unclear to what extend MI is used by experienced surgeons. The purpose of this study was to assess differences in MI of participants with varying surgical expertise in robotic surgery.


METHODS
Students, residents, and surgeons completed the Mental Imagery Questionnaire to assess MI for robotic suturing. Participants then completed robotic simulator tasks, and imagined performing robotic suturing while being assessed with electroencephalogram (EEG).


RESULTS
Attending surgeons reported higher MI for robotic suturing, and EEG revealed higher neural activation during imagery of robotic suturing than other groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Experienced surgeons displayed higher MI ability for robotic suturing, and displayed higher cortical activity in the frontal and parietal areas of the brain, which is associated with more advanced motor imagery. MI appears to be a component of robotic surgery expertise.
['Anton|Nicholas E|NE|', 'Whiteside|Jake A|JA|', 'Cha|Jackie|J|', 'Perkins|Louis A|LA|', 'Martin|Marcel|M|', 'Stefanidis|Dimitrios|D|']
Robotics Surgical expertise Neural activity Mental imagery Electroencephalogram Visualization