title: How does a surgeon's brain buzz? An EEG coherence study on the interaction between humans and robot.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In humans, both primary and non-primary motor areas are involved in the control of voluntary movements. However, the dynamics of functional coupling among different motor areas have not been fully clarified yet. There is to date no research looking to the functional dynamics in the brain of surgeons working in laparoscopy compared with those trained and working in robotic surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 16 right-handed trained surgeons and assessed changes in intra- and inter-hemispheric EEG coherence with a 32-channels device during the same motor task with either a robotic or a laparoscopic approach. Estimates of auto and coherence spectra were calculated by a fast Fourier transform algorithm implemented on Matlab 5.3.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found increase of coherence in surgeons performing laparoscopy, especially in theta and lower alpha activity, in all experimental conditions (M1 vs. SMA, S1 vs. SMA, S1 vs. pre-SMA and M1 vs. S1; p < 0.001). Conversely, an increase in inter-hemispheric coherence in upper alpha and beta band was found in surgeons using the robotic procedure (right vs. left M1, right vs. left S1, right pre-SMA vs. left M1, left pre-SMA vs. right M1; p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data provide a semi-quantitative evaluation of dynamics in functional coupling among different cortical areas in skilled surgeons performing laparoscopy or robotic surgery. These results suggest that motor and non-motor areas are differently activated and coordinated in surgeons performing the same task with different approaches. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that tried to assess semi-quantitative differences during the interaction between normal human brain and robotic devices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Unit of Neurology, Pisa University Medical School, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bocci
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moretto
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tognazzi
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Briscese
authors.forename: Megi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naraci
authors.forename: Letizia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leocani
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mosca
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Ferdinando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sartucci
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000502:physiology; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D013502:General Surgery; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012371:Robotics; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000502:physiology