The neurocognitive gains of diagnostic reasoning training using simulated interactive veterinary cases

The present longitudinal study ascertained training-associated transformations in the neural underpinnings of diagnostic reasoning, using a simulation game named “Equine Virtual Farm” (EVF). Twenty participants underwent structural, EVF/task-based and resting-state MRI and diffusion tensor imaging (...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scientific reports 2019-12, Vol.9 (1), p.19878-10, Article 19878
Main Author: Nassar, Maaly
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
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Adult
Brain - diagnostic imaging
Brain - physiology
Brain Mapping
Cerebellum
Cognition
Creativity
Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Female
Humanities and Social Sciences
Humans
Information processing
Longitudinal studies
Magnetic resonance imaging
Male
Middle Aged
multidisciplinary
Neuroimaging
Nucleus accumbens
Parahippocampal gyrus
Postcentral gyrus
Problem solving
Problem Solving - physiology
Putamen
Reinforcement
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
Semantics
Temporal gyrus
Veterinary medicine
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Summary:The present longitudinal study ascertained training-associated transformations in the neural underpinnings of diagnostic reasoning, using a simulation game named “Equine Virtual Farm” (EVF). Twenty participants underwent structural, EVF/task-based and resting-state MRI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) before and after completing their training on diagnosing simulated veterinary cases. Comparing playing veterinarian versus seeing a colorful image across training sessions revealed the transition of brain activity from scientific creativity regions pre-training (left middle frontal and temporal gyrus) to insight problem-solving regions post-training (right cerebellum, middle cingulate and medial superior gyrus and left postcentral gyrus). Further, applying linear mixed-effects modelling on graph centrality metrics revealed the central roles of the creative semantic (inferior frontal, middle frontal and angular gyrus and parahippocampus) and reward systems (orbital gyrus, nucleus accumbens and putamen) in driving pre-training diagnostic reasoning; whereas, regions implicated in inductive reasoning (superior temporal and medial postcentral gyrus and parahippocampus) were the main post-training hubs. Lastly, resting-state and DTI analysis revealed post-training effects within the occipitotemporal semantic processing region. Altogether, these results suggest that simulation-based training transforms diagnostic reasoning in novices from regions implicated in creative semantic processing to regions implicated in improvised rule-based problem-solving.
ISSN:2045-2322
2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/s41598-019-56404-z