Neural digital twins: reconstructing complex medical environments for spatial planning in virtual reality.

Purpose: Specialized robotic and surgical tools are increasing the complexity of operating rooms (ORs), requiring elaborate preparation especially when techniques or devices are to be used for the first time. Spatial planning can improve efficiency and identify procedural obstacles ahead of time, but real ORs offer little availability to optimize space utilization. Methods for creating reconstructions of physical setups, i.

Stand in surgeon's shoes: virtual reality cross-training to enhance teamwork in surgery.

Purpose: Teamwork in surgery depends on a shared mental model of success, i.e., a common understanding of objectives in the operating room.

Injured Avatars: The Impact of Embodied Anatomies and Virtual Injuries on Well-Being and Performance.

Human cognition relies on embodiment as a fundamental mechanism. Virtual avatars allow users to experience the adaptation, control, and perceptual illusion of alternative bodies. Although virtual bodies have medical applications in motor rehabilitation and therapeutic interventions, their potential for learning anatomy and medical communication remains underexplored.