Comparison and Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Traditional Neuroanatomy Teaching in Medical Education with Virtual-Reality Application Based On 3D Virtual

Neuroanatomical Models, Which is An Innovative Approach

Abstract

Learning the neuroanatomical structures is difficult in traditional medical education. Knowledge and visual materials in neuroanatomy books or atlases are static and limited to two dimensions. The limitation of cadaver and plastic models has been solved by the development of three-dimensional (3D) anatomical models using digital visualization technologies. Medical students are better able to understand the spatial topography of a large number of neuroanatomical structures that are condensed into a small region when they make use of 3D visualization technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). In our study, which will open a new window to classical neuroanatomy education, we aimed to evaluate how much 3D neuroanatomical models based on VR application affect the success and motivation of medical school students in neuroanatomy courses. For this purpose, four exams were given to the second-year medical faculty students before the classical theoretical course, after the theoretical course, after the VR training and application, and six months later to evaluate the long-term effects of the training. Success averages were assessed on a scale of 10; the average score was 3.38 for students who participated in the evaluation after traditional theoretical training and 4.55 for the group who received VR training. In the long-term evaluation after six months, the average score was found to be higher in the group that received VR training. Our study contributes to the literature by demonstrating the positive long-term effects of VR-based neuroanatomy training on memory.