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Dr Rene A. Gonzales, MB Bch, Ophth, BA, MSc, ACertCT (VTCT), PhD, is a researcher graduated from Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS), in partnership with the University of Sussex and the University of Brighton, in the United Kingdom. His research interests include visual perception, mental visualisation of three-dimensional objects, vision in space and micro-gravity, augmented reality, surgical dexterity, robotic surgery, and more.

Dr Gonzales is a medical doctor and ophthalmic surgeon; he also earned a bachelor’s degree in digital media design from the University of Brighton and a master in science in computing with multimedia applications and virtual environments from the University of Sussex. In addition, he is a sports massage therapist, interested in the practical application of anatomy in body movement and posture, and the prevention and treatment of soft tissue injuries.

Research project:

Based at the Medical Research Building, part of BSMS, Dr Gonzales’ research focused on the brain's innate ability to build conceptual images of objects and environments, and the capacity to mentally manipulate them (Spatial Ability). Starting from two-dimensional visual and conceptual information, spatial ability mediates the creation of a 3D concept that helps us understand structural relations, and is applicable to engineering design, medical diagnosis, anatomy learning and teaching, and more. This ability is important for orientation, navigation, visualisation and planning of medical and surgical procedures, also playing a role in the performance of surgical tasks.

The project covered the following areas: Vision, Depth Perception, Spatial Ability, Manual Dexterity, Surgical Dexterity, Cognition, Neuroscience, Anatomy, Surgery, 3-D Modelling, Virtual Environments, Augmented Reality, Product Design, Medical Education and more.

Preliminary results:

The research project confirmed that spatial ability (SA) scores for female students were significantly lower than for male students at baseline and follow up (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in SA scores between the group that received training and the control group post-intervention (P = 0.33); this suggests that a short course of spatial awareness training did not improve SA or anatomy scores. Participant in the lower quartile for SA performed worse in anatomy questions at the end of term (P < 0.001). Scores in spatial ability may help identify students who may benefit from additional academic support.

Publication:

Gonzales RA, Ferns G, Vorstenbosch MA, Smith CF. (2020). Does spatial awareness training affect anatomy learning in medical students? Anat Sci Educ, Vol. 13, Issue 6, pp 707-720. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ase.1949