Medical training and environment: Improving motor memory

Abstract

We decided to investigate the influence of medical training on different cognitive functions. Medical students from the first (61) and third (51) years were volunteers. We got written approval from all of them.They performed memory tests in a calm or turbulent set. They watched a video of 8 movements in a sequence, to make a surgical knot. Then, were asked to reproduce the movements. They got one point for each correct movement and two extra points for 3 or more movements in the correct order. The best two and the worst two movement scores were selected. The third year students, in the turbulent set got the best performances at movements one and two; the worst ones at seven and five. 25% did the movements in the correct order and on average scored 4.1 out of 8. In the calm set, the best performances were at movements one, two-four; the worst at seven and six. 44.4% did movements in the correct order and on average scored 4.5. Comparing the performances between first and third year medical students at the turbulent set, they were 37% × 25% good performances for the sequence and 3.9 × 4.1 correct individual movements. In the calm set, figures were 29% × 44.4% and 2.9 × 4.5. After two years of medical training, students improved 50% of their motor memory in a calm environment but did not in a turbulent one. This suggests brain plasticity favoring memory neural circuits but not attention circuits.