Simulation is gaining momentum as a new modality of medical training, particularly in acute care settings such as surgery. In the present study, the authors aimed to compare individual cognitive skills with manual abilities as assessed by virtual reality (VR) simulation among neurosurgical residents.

Participants were asked to complete a multiple-choice questionnaire assessing their surgical abilities regarding three basic neurosurgical procedures (endoscopic third ventriculostomy, cranial meningioma, and lumbar laminectomy). They subsequently performed these same three procedures on a VR simulator (NeuroTouch).

The authors found that cognitive scores correlated with self-evaluation of surgical experience and autonomy. On the contrary, VR simulation, as assessed by NeuroTouch automated scoring, did not reflect participants’ cognitive or self-evaluation of their surgical proficiency.

The results of this study suggest that neurosurgical education should focus as much on cognitive simulation (e.g., careful planning and critical appraisal of actual procedures) as on VR training of visuomotor skills.

模拟作为一种新的医学培训方式正在获得动力，特别是在外科手术等急症护理环境中。在本研究中，作者旨在比较神经外科住院医师通过虚拟现实 (VR) 模拟评估的个人认知技能与手动能力。

参与者被要求完成一项多项选择问卷，以评估他们关于三种基本神经外科手术（内窥镜第三脑室造口术、颅脑膜瘤和腰椎椎板切除术）的手术能力。随后，他们在 VR 模拟器 (NeuroTouch) 上执行了这三个相同的程序。

作者发现认知评分与手术经验和自主性的自我评价相关。相反，由 NeuroTouch 自动评分评估的 VR 模拟并未反映参与者对其手术熟练程度的认知或自我评价。

这项研究的结果表明，神经外科教育应该与视觉运动技能的 VR 培训一样，更应该关注认知模拟（例如，仔细规划和对实际程序的批判性评估）。