Artificial tactile and proprioceptive feedback improves performance and confidence on object identification tasks.

ABSTRACT: Somatosensory feedback of the hand is essential for object identification. Without somatosensory feedback, individuals cannot reliably determine the size or compliance of an object. Electrical nerve stimulation can restore localized tactile and proprioceptive feedback with intensity discrimination capability similar to natural sensation. We hypothesized that adding artificial somatosensation improves object recognition accuracy when using a prosthesis. To test this hypothesis, we provided different forms of sensory feedback-tactile, proprioceptive, or both-to two subjects with upper limb loss. The subjects were asked to identify the size or mechanical compliance of different foam blocks placed in the prosthetic hand while visually and audibly blinded. During trials, we did not inform the s

SUBMITTER: Schiefer MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6281191 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature