Introduction: this study assesses the effect of mental training on the tasks execution times of laparoscopic skills training. Methods: A Repeated Measures Experimental Design was executed. Two study groups were formed (an intervention group with mental training and a control group). Each group consisted in eight participants. Execution times in four tasks to practice four basic skills were registered three times in a period of one moth. Evaluated basic skills were cut, dissection, displacement and suture. Results: Intervention group times had a significant reduction on three of the four tasks (displacement, dissection, and suture). Conclusions: This protocol could be used as a complement on basic training for novices. It can reduce times and costs in a Laparoscopic course.