Brain Surgery for Dummies

It may be a little unsettling, but it's not easy performing brain surgery when the surgeon can't even see what he or she is working on. In the past, magnifying eye glasses were state of the art. Today, technology makes it easier and safer than ever to undergo these procedures. As Popular Science explains, "Synaptive's robotic microscope arm follows the surgeon’s movements, projecting an image of where she is working in the brain across two huge screens." The projections provide better views not only to the surgeon but also to students learning these delicate procedures. While medical training has greatly benefited from this modern approach, technology has just taken another giant leap forward.

Synaptive Medical of Toronto, Canada has recently produced a synthetic brain for training purposes. The gelatinous and other extremely life-like properties are so realistic, it has been described as eerie. For the first time, medical students can train without having to sacrifice a cadaver brain allowing for more training as donated organs like the brain are not always readily available. We've come a long way since the game Operation. Now, even the patient can see in all its exquisite detail the surgeon accidentally dropping his scalpel on your prefrontal cortex.