Utilizing 3D Stereoscopic Neuroanatomy Images in Medical Education

Introduction: An in-depth grasp of anatomy is a crucial cornerstone in medical education, especially for understanding radiological images and orientation during surgical procedures. Bridging the gap between 2D cross-sectional images and 3D spatial relationships within the human body is essential. While traditional cadaver-based learning remains a pivotal component of medical education, it comes with significant costs and demands extensive time commitments to achieve educational goals. Many programs are exploring integrating virtual reality and 3D printing into anatomy lessons; however, these solutions entail substantial expenses and may not be accessible to all programs.

Our objective is to showcase the effectiveness of employing 3D anaglyph images in neuroanatomy lessons. This approach promises to enhance learning by providing a cost-effective, immersive, and captivating educational medium.

Methods: We developed a method to convert a stereoscopic 2D neuroanatomy image to a two-channel 3D magenta-cyan anaglyph. The two channels are overlaid with 50% opacity and co-registered to provide a 3D view comparable to the view seen in a surgical binocular microscope. These images can then be viewed on 2D surfaces when wearing 3D glasses, which can be integrated into presentations. We plan to implement these anaglyphs into a case-control study comparing student learning outcomes in the neuroanatomy course at Carle Illinois College of Medicine in January 2024.

Results: We were able to successfully convert stereoscopic 2D neuroanatomy images to 3D anaglyphs for magenta-cyan 3D glasses. Utilizing this technology with neuroanatomy images showed positive results in creating recognizable 3D images comparable to the views seen in a surgical microscope.

Conclusion : The use of stereoscopic images can increase student engagement and overall understanding of anatomical structures in a cost-effective and widely accessible way. This project demonstrates some of the tools needed to implement this teaching technique. Future research will explore students' opinions of using the images for anatomy compared to traditional 2D cross-sections, and the development of anaglyphs for polarized light 3D glasses and active shutter 3D glasses to maintain image color and improve immersion.