Imagery practice and the development of surgical skills

Purpose: The purpose of this review is to explore the potential role of imagery practice during the acquisition of surgical skills, imagery practice being the mental rehearsal of a skill. Methods The core of this review is derived from a literature search of a computer database (Medline). Findings The cognitive processing that occurs during times of intense learning involves processes such as dream enactment behavior and imagery practice. These processes complement and augment the more usual forms of practice. Conclusions Imagery practice provides a mechanism for the explicit learning of surgical skills.