title: Imagery practice and the development of surgical skills.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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).
  
  
  RESULTS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Western Australia, and University Department of Surgery, Royal Perth Hospital, Wellington St., 6000, Perth, WA, Australia. jchall@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D004501:Education, Medical; D006801:Humans; D019018:Imagery, Psychotherapy; D009048:Motor Skills; D011361:Professional Competence; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000592:standards*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis