It can be done in the movies and now technology has advanced to the point where it can be done in real life.
Medical students at the University of Saskatchewan can now study the brain using immersive, interactive virtual reality which is basically like walking right inside a brain and checking out all the complex structures and how they relate to each other.
The data comes from a real brain MRI.
Dr. Ivar mendez, Provincial Head of the Department of Surgery for the U of S, calls it a valuable tool for teaching brain anatomy.
In a U of S study, second year medical students were divided into 2 groups.
Half studied through text books and the other half studied the brain through virtual reality.
Dr. Mendez says those that used the technology were able to retain the information longer.
It also helped for students who have what is called “neurophobia” where they are afraid to study the brain because it’s so complex.
Dr. Mendez says using the virtual reality method, that anxiety decreased.
He looks forward to a time when surgeons can take a brain MRI and use this virtual reality to plan complex surgeries.
Mendez is proud that the U of S is pioneering and leading the way in this technology across the country.