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Lee J, Miri S, Bayro A, Kim M, Jeong H, Yeo WH. Biosignal-integrated robotic systems with emerging trends in visual interfaces: A systematic review. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2024; 5:011301. [PMID: 38510371 PMCID: PMC10903439 DOI: 10.1063/5.0185568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Human-machine interfaces (HMI) are currently a trendy and rapidly expanding area of research. Interestingly, the human user does not readily observe the interface between humans and machines. Instead, interactions between the machine and electrical signals from the user's body are obscured by complex control algorithms. The result is effectively a one-way street, wherein data is only transmitted from human to machine. Thus, a gap remains in the literature: how can information be effectively conveyed to the user to enable mutual understanding between humans and machines? Here, this paper reviews recent advancements in biosignal-integrated wearable robotics, with a particular emphasis on "visualization"-the presentation of relevant data, statistics, and visual feedback to the user. This review article covers various signals of interest, such as electroencephalograms and electromyograms, and explores novel sensor architectures and key materials. Recent developments in wearable robotics are examined from control and mechanical design perspectives. Additionally, we discuss current visualization methods and outline the field's future direction. While much of the HMI field focuses on biomedical and healthcare applications, such as rehabilitation of spinal cord injury and stroke patients, this paper also covers less common applications in manufacturing, defense, and other domains.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sina Miri
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
| | - Allison Bayro
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA
| | - Myunghee Kim
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
| | - Heejin Jeong
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed:; ; and
| | - Woon-Hong Yeo
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed:; ; and
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2
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Segil JL, Roldan LM, Graczyk EL. Measuring embodiment: A review of methods for prosthetic devices. Front Neurorobot 2022; 16:902162. [PMID: 36590084 PMCID: PMC9797051 DOI: 10.3389/fnbot.2022.902162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of neural interfaces to provide improved control and somatosensory feedback from prosthetic limbs has initiated a new ability to probe the various dimensions of embodiment. Scientists in the field of neuroprosthetics require dependable measures of ownership, body representation, and agency to quantify the sense of embodiment felt by patients for their prosthetic limbs. These measures are critical to perform generalizable experiments and compare the utility of the new technologies being developed. Here, we review outcome measures used in the literature to evaluate the senses of ownership, body-representation, and agency. We categorize these existing measures based on the fundamental psychometric property measured and whether it is a behavioral or physiological measure. We present arguments for the efficacy and pitfalls of each measure to guide better experimental designs and future outcome measure development. The purpose of this review is to aid prosthesis researchers and technology developers in understanding the concept of embodiment and selecting metrics to assess embodiment in their research. Advances in the ability to measure the embodiment of prosthetic devices have far-reaching implications in the improvement of prosthetic limbs as well as promoting a broader understanding of ourselves as embodied agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob L. Segil
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
- Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Leah Marie Roldan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Emily L. Graczyk
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, United States
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3
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Zbinden J, Lendaro E, Ortiz-Catalan M. A multi-dimensional framework for prosthetic embodiment: a perspective for translational research. J Neuroeng Rehabil 2022; 19:122. [PMID: 36369004 PMCID: PMC9652836 DOI: 10.1186/s12984-022-01102-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The concept of embodiment has gained widespread popularity within prosthetics research. Embodiment has been claimed to be an indicator of the efficacy of sensory feedback and control strategies. Moreover, it has even been claimed to be necessary for prosthesis acceptance, albeit unfoundedly. Despite the popularity of the term, an actual consensus on how prosthetic embodiment should be used in an experimental framework has yet to be reached. The lack of consensus is in part due to terminological ambiguity and the lack of an exact definition of prosthetic embodiment itself. In a review published parallel to this article, we summarized the definitions of embodiment used in prosthetics literature and concluded that treating prosthetic embodiment as a combination of ownership and agency allows for embodiment to be quantified, and thus useful in translational research. Here, we review the potential mechanisms that give rise to ownership and agency considering temporal, spatial, and anatomical constraints. We then use this to propose a multi-dimensional framework where prosthetic embodiment arises within a spectrum dependent on the integration of volition and multi-sensory information as demanded by the degree of interaction with the environment. This framework allows for the different experimental paradigms on sensory feedback and prosthetic control to be placed in a common perspective. By considering that embodiment lays along a spectrum tied to the interactions with the environment, one can conclude that the embodiment of prosthetic devices should be assessed while operating in environments as close to daily life as possible for it to become relevant.
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Guémann M, Halgand C, Bastier A, Lansade C, Borrini L, Lapeyre É, Cattaert D, de Rugy A. Sensory substitution of elbow proprioception to improve myoelectric control of upper limb prosthesis: experiment on healthy subjects and amputees. J Neuroeng Rehabil 2022; 19:59. [PMID: 35690860 PMCID: PMC9188052 DOI: 10.1186/s12984-022-01038-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current myoelectric prostheses lack proprioceptive information and rely on vision for their control. Sensory substitution is increasingly developed with non-invasive vibrotactile or electrotactile feedback, but most systems are designed for grasping or object discriminations, and few were tested for online control in amputees. The objective of this work was evaluate the effect of a novel vibrotactile feedback on the accuracy of myoelectric control of a virtual elbow by healthy subjects and participants with an upper-limb amputation at humeral level. METHODS Sixteen, healthy participants and 7 transhumeral amputees performed myoelectric control of a virtual arm under different feedback conditions: vision alone (VIS), vibration alone (VIB), vision plus vibration (VIS + VIB), or no feedback at all (NO). Reach accuracy was evaluated by angular errors during discrete as well as back and forth movements. Healthy participants' workloads were assessed with the NASA-TLX questionnaire, and feedback conditions were ranked according to preference at the end of the experiment. RESULTS Reach errors were higher in NO than in VIB, indicating that our vibrotactile feedback improved performance as compared to no feedback. Conditions VIS and VIS+VIB display similar levels of performance and produced lower errors than in VIB. Vision remains therefore critical to maintain good performance, which is not ameliorated nor deteriorated by the addition of vibrotactile feedback. The workload associated with VIB was higher than for VIS and VIS+VIB, which did not differ from each other. 62.5% of healthy subjects preferred the VIS+VIB condition, and ranked VIS and VIB second and third, respectively. CONCLUSION Our novel vibrotactile feedback improved myoelectric control of a virtual elbow as compared to no feedback. Although vision remained critical, the addition of vibrotactile feedback did not improve nor deteriorate the control and was preferred by participants. Longer training should improve performances with VIB alone and reduce the need of vision for close-loop prosthesis control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthieu Guémann
- HYBRID Team, INCIA, CNRS, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France. .,Unité de Physiologie de l'Exercice et des Activités en Conditions Extrêmes,Département Environnements Opérationnels, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, Brétigny, France.
| | | | | | | | - Léo Borrini
- Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Department, Percy Military Hospital, Clamart, France
| | - Éric Lapeyre
- Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Department, Percy Military Hospital, Clamart, France
| | | | - Aymar de Rugy
- HYBRID Team, INCIA, CNRS, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France
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5
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Zbinden J, Lendaro E, Ortiz-Catalan M. Prosthetic embodiment: systematic review on definitions, measures, and experimental paradigms. J Neuroeng Rehabil 2022; 19:37. [PMID: 35346251 PMCID: PMC8962549 DOI: 10.1186/s12984-022-01006-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The term embodiment has become omnipresent within prosthetics research and is often used as a metric of the progress made in prosthetic technologies, as well as a hallmark for user acceptance. However, despite the frequent use of the term, the concept of prosthetic embodiment is often left undefined or described incongruently, sometimes even within the same article. This terminological ambiguity complicates the comparison of studies using embodiment as a metric of success, which in turn hinders the advancement of prosthetics research. To resolve these terminological ambiguities, we systematically reviewed the used definitions of embodiment in the prosthetics literature. We performed a thematic analysis of the definitions and found that embodiment is often conceptualized in either of two frameworks based on body representations or experimental phenomenology. We concluded that treating prosthetic embodiment within an experimental phenomenological framework as the combination of ownership and agency allows for embodiment to be a quantifiable metric for use in translational research. To provide a common reference and guidance on how to best assess ownership and agency, we conducted a second systematic review, analyzing experiments and measures involving ownership and agency. Together, we highlight a pragmatic definition of prosthetic embodiment as the combination of ownership and agency, and in an accompanying article, we provide a perspective on a multi-dimensional framework for prosthetic embodiment. Here, we concluded by providing recommendations on metrics that allow for outcome comparisons between studies, thereby creating a common reference for further discussions within prosthetics research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Zbinden
- Center for Bionics and Pain Research, Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Eva Lendaro
- Center for Bionics and Pain Research, Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Max Ortiz-Catalan
- Center for Bionics and Pain Research, Mölndal, Sweden.
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden.
- Operational Area 3, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
- Department of Orthopaedics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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Marasco PD, Hebert JS, Sensinger JW, Beckler DT, Thumser ZC, Shehata AW, Williams HE, Wilson KR. Neurorobotic fusion of prosthetic touch, kinesthesia, and movement in bionic upper limbs promotes intrinsic brain behaviors. Sci Robot 2021; 6:eabf3368. [PMID: 34516746 DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.abf3368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
[Figure: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul D Marasco
- Laboratory for Bionic Integration, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, ND20, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.,Advanced Platform Technology Center, Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 10701 East Boulevard 151 W/APT, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Jacqueline S Hebert
- Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada.,Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Alberta Health Services, 10230-111 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T5G 0B7, Canada
| | - Jonathon W Sensinger
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of New Brunswick, 25 Dineen Drive, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5A3, Canada
| | - Dylan T Beckler
- Laboratory for Bionic Integration, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, ND20, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Zachary C Thumser
- Laboratory for Bionic Integration, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, ND20, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.,Research Service, Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 10701 East Boulevard, Research 151, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Ahmed W Shehata
- Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - Heather E Williams
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - Kathleen R Wilson
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of New Brunswick, 25 Dineen Drive, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5A3, Canada
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7
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Schofield JS, Battraw MA, Parker ASR, Pilarski PM, Sensinger JW, Marasco PD. Embodied Cooperation to Promote Forgiving Interactions With Autonomous Machines. Front Neurorobot 2021; 15:661603. [PMID: 33897401 PMCID: PMC8062797 DOI: 10.3389/fnbot.2021.661603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
During every waking moment, we must engage with our environments, the people around us, the tools we use, and even our own bodies to perform actions and achieve our intentions. There is a spectrum of control that we have over our surroundings that spans the extremes from full to negligible. When the outcomes of our actions do not align with our goals, we have a tremendous capacity to displace blame and frustration on external factors while forgiving ourselves. This is especially true when we cooperate with machines; they are rarely afforded the level of forgiveness we provide our bodies and often bear much of our blame. Yet, our brain readily engages with autonomous processes in controlling our bodies to coordinate complex patterns of muscle contractions, make postural adjustments, adapt to external perturbations, among many others. This acceptance of biological autonomy may provide avenues to promote more forgiving human-machine partnerships. In this perspectives paper, we argue that striving for machine embodiment is a pathway to achieving effective and forgiving human-machine relationships. We discuss the mechanisms that help us identify ourselves and our bodies as separate from our environments and we describe their roles in achieving embodied cooperation. Using a representative selection of examples in neurally interfaced prosthetic limbs and intelligent mechatronics, we describe techniques to engage these same mechanisms when designing autonomous systems and their potential bidirectional interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathon S Schofield
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Marcus A Battraw
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Adam S R Parker
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Patrick M Pilarski
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Jonathon W Sensinger
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada
| | - Paul D Marasco
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute-Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States.,Advanced Platform Technology Center, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, United States
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8
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Sensinger JW, Dosen S. A Review of Sensory Feedback in Upper-Limb Prostheses From the Perspective of Human Motor Control. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:345. [PMID: 32655344 PMCID: PMC7324654 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
This manuscript reviews historical and recent studies that focus on supplementary sensory feedback for use in upper limb prostheses. It shows that the inability of many studies to speak to the issue of meaningful performance improvements in real-life scenarios is caused by the complexity of the interactions of supplementary sensory feedback with other types of feedback along with other portions of the motor control process. To do this, the present manuscript frames the question of supplementary feedback from the perspective of computational motor control, providing a brief review of the main advances in that field over the last 20 years. It then separates the studies on the closed-loop prosthesis control into distinct categories, which are defined by relating the impact of feedback to the relevant components of the motor control framework, and reviews the work that has been done over the last 50+ years in each of those categories. It ends with a discussion of the studies, along with suggestions for experimental construction and connections with other areas of research, such as machine learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathon W. Sensinger
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada
| | - Strahinja Dosen
- Department of Health Science and Technology, The Faculty of Medicine, Integrative Neuroscience, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
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9
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Shehata AW, Rehani M, Jassat ZE, Hebert JS. Mechanotactile Sensory Feedback Improves Embodiment of a Prosthetic Hand During Active Use. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:263. [PMID: 32273838 PMCID: PMC7113400 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
There have been several advancements in the field of myoelectric prostheses to improve dexterity and restore hand grasp patterns for persons with upper limb loss, including robust control strategies, novel sensory feedback, and multifunction prosthetic terminal devices. Although these advancements have shown to improve prosthesis performance, a key element that may further improve acceptance is often overlooked. Embodiment, which encompasses the feeling of owning, controlling and locating the device without the need to constantly look at it, has been shown to be affected by sensory feedback. However, the specific aspects of embodiment that are influenced are not clearly understood, particularly when a prosthesis is actively controlled. In this work, we used a sensorized simulated prosthesis in able-bodied participants to investigate the contribution of sensory feedback, active motor control, and the combination of both to the components of embodiment; using a common methodology in the literature, namely the rubber hand illusion (RHI). Our results indicate that (1) the sensorized simulated prosthesis may be embodied by able-bodied users in a similar fashion as prosthetic devices embodied by persons with upper limb amputation, and (2) mechanotactile sensory feedback might not only be useful for improving certain aspects of embodiment, i.e., ownership and location, but also may have a modulating effect on other aspects, namely sense of agency, when provided asynchronously during active motor control tasks. This work may allow us to further investigate and manipulate factors contributing to the complex phenomenon of embodiment in relation to active motor control of a device, enabling future study of more precise quantitative measures of embodiment that do not rely as much on subjective perception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed W. Shehata
- Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Mayank Rehani
- Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Zaheera E. Jassat
- Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Jacqueline S. Hebert
- Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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10
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Wolf EJ, Cruz TH, Emondi AA, Langhals NB, Naufel S, Peng GCY, Schulz BW, Wolfson M. Advanced technologies for intuitive control and sensation of prosthetics. Biomed Eng Lett 2020; 10:119-128. [PMID: 32175133 PMCID: PMC7046895 DOI: 10.1007/s13534-019-00127-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs and National Institutes of Health have invested significantly in advancing prosthetic technologies over the past 25 years, with the overall intent to improve the function, participation and quality of life of Service Members, Veterans, and all United States Citizens living with limb loss. These investments have contributed to substantial advancements in the control and sensory perception of prosthetic devices over the past decade. While control of motorized prosthetic devices through the use of electromyography has been widely available since the 1980s, this technology is not intuitive. Additionally, these systems do not provide stimulation for sensory perception. Recent research has made significant advancement not only in the intuitive use of electromyography for control but also in the ability to provide relevant meaningful perceptions through various stimulation approaches. While much of this previous work has traditionally focused on those with upper extremity amputation, new developments include advanced bidirectional neuroprostheses that are applicable to both the upper and lower limb amputation. The goal of this review is to examine the state-of-the-science in the areas of intuitive control and sensation of prosthetic devices and to discuss areas of exploration for the future. Current research and development efforts in external systems, implanted systems, surgical approaches, and regenerative approaches will be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik J. Wolf
- Clinical and Rehabilitative Medicine Research Program, US Army Medical Research and Development Command, Fort Detrick, MD 21702 USA
| | - Theresa H. Cruz
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD 20817 USA
| | - Alfred A. Emondi
- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, VA 22203 USA
| | - Nicholas B. Langhals
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892 USA
| | | | - Grace C. Y. Peng
- National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD 20817 USA
| | - Brian W. Schulz
- VA Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC 20002 USA
| | - Michael Wolfson
- National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD 20817 USA
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11
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Blustein D, Gill S, Wilson A, Sensinger J. Crossmodal congruency effect scores decrease with repeat test exposure. PeerJ 2019; 7:e6976. [PMID: 31179180 PMCID: PMC6535039 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The incorporation of feedback into a person’s body schema is well established. The crossmodal congruency task (CCT) is used to objectively quantify incorporation without being susceptible to experimenter biases. This visual-tactile interference task is used to calculate the crossmodal congruency effect (CCE) score as a difference in response time between incongruent and congruent trials. Here we show that this metric is susceptible to a learning effect that causes attenuation of the CCE score due to repeated task exposure sessions. We demonstrate that this learning effect is persistent, even after a 6 month hiatus in testing. Two mitigation strategies are proposed: 1. Only use CCE scores that are taken after learning has stabilized, or 2. Use a modified CCT protocol that decreases the task exposure time. We show that the modified and shortened CCT protocol, which may be required to meet time or logistical constraints in laboratory or clinical settings, reduced the impact of the learning effect on CCT results. Importantly, the CCE scores from the modified protocol were not significantly more variable than results obtained with the original protocol. This study highlights the importance of considering exposure time to the CCT when designing experiments and suggests two mitigation strategies to improve the utility of this psychophysical assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Blustein
- Department of Psychology; Neuroscience Program, Rhodes College, Memphis, TN, United States of America
| | - Satinder Gill
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Adam Wilson
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Jon Sensinger
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.,Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
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