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Neuroanatomy Learning: Augmented Reality vs. Cross-Sections |
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| Authors: | Dylan JHA Henssen Loes van den Heuvel Guido De Jong Marc ATM Vorstenbosch Anne-Marie van Cappellen van Walsum Marianne M Van den Hurk Jan GM Kooloos Ronald HMA Bartels |
| Institution: | 1. Department of Anatomy, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands;2. Department of Anatomy, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands;3. Department of Neurosurgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands;4. Department of Anatomy, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands;5. Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands |
| Abstract: | Neuroanatomy education is a challenging field which could benefit from modern innovations, such as augmented reality (AR) applications. This study investigates the differences on test scores, cognitive load, and motivation after neuroanatomy learning using AR applications or using cross-sections of the brain. Prior to two practical assignments, a pretest (extended matching questions, double-choice questions and a test on cross-sectional anatomy) and a mental rotation test (MRT) were completed. Sex and MRT scores were used to stratify students over the two groups. The two practical assignments were designed to study (1) general brain anatomy and (2) subcortical structures. Subsequently, participants completed a posttest similar to the pretest and a motivational questionnaire. Finally, a focus group interview was conducted to appraise participants’ perceptions. Medical and biomedical students (n = 31); 19 males (61.3%) and 12 females (38.7%), mean age 19.2 ± 1.7 years participated in this experiment. Students who worked with cross-sections (n = 16) showed significantly more improvement on test scores than students who worked with GreyMapp-AR (P = 0.035) (n = 15). Further analysis showed that this difference was primarily caused by significant improvement on the cross-sectional questions. Students in the cross-section group, moreover, experienced a significantly higher germane (P = 0.009) and extraneous cognitive load (P = 0.016) than students in the GreyMapp-AR group. No significant differences were found in motivational scores. To conclude, this study suggests that AR applications can play a role in future anatomy education as an add-on educational tool, especially in learning three-dimensional relations of anatomical structures. |
| Keywords: | neuroanatomy education medical education undergraduate education augmented reality cross-sectional anatomy neuroanatomy neuroscience |