Revolution in medical education: relearn VR and anatomy!

Revolution in medical education: relearn VR and anatomy!

The reports on March 24, 2025 University of Bonn that medical education is undergoing profound change. In particular, the separation between pre-clinic, where theoretical basics are taught, and clinical, where practical experience with patients is gained, poses challenges for many students. Particularly in neurology, many learners suffer from insecurity, also known as “neurophobia,” which highlights the need for an innovative approach to teaching.

A new project entitled “Understanding Anatomy + Neuro Vertically Linked” aims to counteract these challenges. The use of the Anatomage Table, a virtual dissection table, plays a central role. It enables a detailed examination of human anatomy without the need for real specimens. This technology promotes interactive and clear representations of neuroanatomical structures, which should not only increase students' interest but also improve their diagnostic skills.

Integration of innovative teaching materials

The Anatomage Table offers profound possibilities for teaching anatomy. Loud Anatomage The anatomical models are made from frozen, cadaveric sections of real human bodies that were donated for research purposes. These cuts go through a complex reconstruction process to recreate the shape of the carcass before death in a 3D digital format.

The Anatomage Body Portfolio includes various body types including male, female, geriatric and pregnant models. Anatomical details can be visualized with an accuracy of up to 0.5 mm. This gives students the opportunity to select or locate specific anatomical structures from a comprehensive list.

The technologies enable the demonstration of physiological functions in a manner similar to living bodies. This ensures precise understanding and realistic visualization during physiological processes. The rendering technology integrates the real behaviors of tissues, thus providing realistic simulated physiology.

Advanced digital applications in education

Parallel to these developments, there are also increasing efforts to use digital technologies in medical training. Based on that from the NCBI presented Bochum Avatar Exploration Project (AVEX), virtual reality (VR) avatars are used. These avatars allow medical students to interact with “mentally ill” characters to develop diagnoses and treatment recommendations.

The VR applications offer immersive experiences that simulate learning and interaction with patients. The use of such technologies is considered extremely beneficial for teaching psychiatry and psychotherapy. Regular use of VR is intended to promote specific skills in psychiatric diagnostics.

The integration of feedback mechanisms also supports the students' learning strategies. Nevertheless, the challenges in developing flexible programs for VR application must be taken into account. The ultimate goal is to comprehensively improve medical students' skills in mental health care.

In summary, the innovative use of technologies such as the Anatomage Table and VR systems can have a lasting impact on medical education and effectively adapt it to modern requirements. Both projects aim to significantly improve training in both neurology and psychiatry and to better respond to the needs of students.