Refs. 3. Visuo-spatial, 3D perceptual skills <-> anatomy and surgery skills

(the list of references provided here is illustrative, far from being exhaustive!)

Biddle, M., Hamid, S., & Ali, N. (2014). An evaluation of stereoacuity (3D vision) in practising surgeons across a range of surgical specialities. The Surgeon, 12(1), 7-10.

Fernandez R, Dror IE, Smith C (2011). Spatial abilities of expert clinical anatomists: Comparison of abilities between novices, intermediates, and experts in anatomy.  Anatomical sciences education, 4(1): 1–8.

Guillot A, Champely S, Batier C, Thiriet P, Collet C (2007). Relationship between spatial abilities, mental rotation and functional anatomy learning.  Advances in health sciences education, 12(4): 491–507.

Hedman L, Ström P, Andersson P, Kjellin A, Wredmark T, Felländer-Tsai L (2006). High-level visual-spatial ability for novices correlates with performance in a visual-spatial complex surgical simulator task.  Surgical Endoscopy and Other Interventional Techniques, 20(8): 1275–1280.

Hegarty M, Keehner M, Khooshabeh P, Montello DR (2009). How spatial abilities enhance, and are enhanced by, dental education.  Learning and Individual Differences, 19(1): 61–70.

Hoyek N, Collet C, Rastello O, Fargier P, Thiriet P, Guillot A (2009). Enhancement of mental rotation abilities and its effect on anatomy learning.  Teaching and learning in medicine, 21(3): 201–206.

Hoyek, N. and Sylvestre, E. et al. (2010). Capacites Visuo-Spatiales Et Enseignement De l'anatomie Quatre Ans De Recherches Experimentales A l'universite Lyon 1. Proc. colloque TICEMED

Langlois J, Wells GA, Lecourtois M, Bergeron G, Yetisir E, Martin M (2009). Spatial abilities in an elective course of applied anatomy after a problem-based learning curriculum.  Anatomical sciences education, 2(3): 107–112.

Lufler RS, Zumwalt AC, Romney CA, Hoagland TM (2012). Effect of visual--spatial ability on medical students' performance in a gross anatomy course.  Anatomical Sciences Education, 5(1): 3–9.

Vorstenbosch, M. A., Klaassen, T. P., Donders, A. R. T., Kooloos, J. G., Bolhuis, S. M., & Laan, R. F. (2013). Learning anatomy enhances spatial ability. Anatomical sciences education, 6(4), 257-262.