Neuroscience News logo for mobile.
  • Neuroscience News
  • Neuroscience
  • Disorders
  • Programs
  • Advertise
    • Newsletter Ads
  • Submit News
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • Discussions
    • Discussion Groups
    • Neuroscience Forums
    • Activity
    • Members
Neuroscience News Logo
Neuroscience News Small Logo
  • Neuroscience
    Neuroscience

    Neuroscience research articles are provided.

    What is neuroscience? Neuroscience is the scientific study of nervous systems. Neuroscience can involve research from many branches of science including those involving neurology, brain science, neurobiology, psychology, computer science, artificial intelligence, statistics, prosthetics, neuroimaging, engineering, medicine, physics, mathematics, pharmacology, electrophysiology, biology, robotics and technology.

    This shows a pregnant woman

    Pandemic Distress May Affect Fetal Brain Development

    This shows a woman sleeping on her side

    On Your Back, Side, or Face-Down? How We Sleep May Trigger or Protect Our Brain From Diseases Like ALS

    This shows the outline of two brains

    Novel Sensors Enable Precise Measurement of Dopamine

    • Open Access Neuroscience
    • Electrophysiology
    • Neuroscience Opinions
    • Neuroscience Videos
    • Sponsored Neuroscience News
  • Neurology
    Neurology

    – These articles focus mainly on neurology research.
    – What is neurology?
    – Definition of neurology: a science involved in the study of the nervous systems, especially of the diseases and disorders affecting them.
    – Neurology research can include information involving brain research, neurological disorders, medicine, brain cancer, peripheral nervous systems, central nervous systems, nerve damage, brain tumors, seizures, neurosurgery, electrophysiology, BMI, brain injuries, paralysis and spinal cord treatments.

    This shows a woman sleeping on her side

    On Your Back, Side, or Face-Down? How We Sleep May Trigger or Protect Our Brain From Diseases Like ALS

    This shows a brain

    Sugar-Studded Protein Linked to Alzheimer’s Disease

    This shows a diagram from the study

    A Biomarker That Can Diagnose Parkinson’s Disease

    • Alzheimer’s Disease
    • Brain Research
    • Brain Cancer
    • Autism
    • Epilepsy
    • Traumatic Brain Injuries
    • Parkinson’s Disease
  • Psychology
    Psychology

    What is Psychology?
    Definition of Psychology: Psychology is the study of behavior in an individual, or group. Our psychology articles cover research in mental health, psychiatry, depression, psychology, schizophrenia, autism spectrum, happiness, stress and more.

    This shows a pregnant woman

    Pandemic Distress May Affect Fetal Brain Development

    This shows the burning man

    Many Attendees of Gatherings Like Burning Man Report “Transformative Experiences”

    This shows a couple dancing with headphones on

    Turn up the Beat! Groovy Rhythm Improves Cognitive Ability in Music Lovers

    • Schizophrenia
    • Depression
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • Mental Health
  • AI
    AI

    Artificial Intelligence articles involve programming, neural engineering, artificial neural networks, artificial life, a-life, floyds, boids, emergence, machine learning, neuralbots, neuralrobotics, computational neuroscience and more involving A.I. research.

    This shows a smiling baby

    AI Predicts Infant Age and Gender Based on Temperament

    This shows a man sitting alone

    Social Isolation Can Cause Depression for Middle-Aged and Older Adults

    This shows the outline of two heads

    Quantifying Human Consciousness With the Help of AI

    • Neural Networks
    • Deep Learning
    • Machine Learning
  • Robotics
    Robotics

    Robotics articles will cover robotics research press releases. Robotics news from universities, labs, researchers, engineers, students, high schools, conventions, competitions and more are posted and welcome.

    This shows a person undergoing robotic surgery

    Robotic Surgery Is Safer and Improves Patient Recovery Time

    This shows a model of a head and a brain

    Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Uncover Hidden Signatures of Parkinson’s Disease

    This shows the prosthetic hand

    A New Type of Hand Prosthesis Learns From the User, and the User Learns From the Prosthesis

  • Genetics
    Genetics

    Genetics articles related to neuroscience research will be listed here.

    This shows a heart shaped brain

    Researchers May Have Found the Missing Link Between Alzheimer’s and Vascular Disease

    This shows an older man

    Seven Healthy Habits Linked to Lower Risk of Dementia in Those With Genetic Risk

    This shows dna

    Mechanism Shared by Mutations in Different Genes Associated With Autism, Schizophrenia, and Other Conditions Discovered

  • Neurotech
    Neurotech

    Neurotechnology research articles deal with robotics, AI, deep learning, machine learning, Brain Computer Interfaces, neuroprosthetics, neural implants and more. Read the latest neurotech news articles below.

    This shows the outline of two brains

    Novel Sensors Enable Precise Measurement of Dopamine

    This shows a person undergoing robotic surgery

    Robotic Surgery Is Safer and Improves Patient Recovery Time

    This shows the outline of a woman and a brain

    How the Brain Changes During Depression Treatment

    • Brain Computer Interfaces
    • Neuroprosthetics
  • About
    • Neuroscience Newsletters
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Neuroscience News
    • Neuroscience News Sitemap
    • Log In
  • Trending
    NowWeekMonth
    This shows a woman breastfeeding

    Breastfeeding Duration Associated With Cognition

    This shows an older man

    Seven Healthy Habits Linked to Lower Risk of Dementia in Those With Genetic Risk

    This shows a baby and sound waves

    Early Sound Exposure in the Womb Shapes the Auditory System

    This shows a heart shaped brain

    Researchers May Have Found the Missing Link Between Alzheimer’s and Vascular Disease

    This shows the burning man

    Many Attendees of Gatherings Like Burning Man Report “Transformative Experiences”

Reading
Prosthetic Arms Can Provide Controlled Sensory Feedback
ShareTweet
Home
Featured

Prosthetic Arms Can Provide Controlled Sensory Feedback

FeaturedNeuroscienceRobotics
·April 28, 2018

Summary: Researchers have developed a new prosthetic arm that stimulates the nerves in the amputated limb, allowing the patient to feel the sense of touch.

Source: University of Illinois.

Losing an arm doesn’t have to mean losing all sense of touch, thanks to prosthetic arms that stimulate nerves with mild electrical feedback.

University of Illinois researchers have developed a control algorithm that regulates the current so a prosthetics user feels steady sensation, even when the electrodes begin to peel off or when sweat builds up.

“We’re giving sensation back to someone who’s lost their hand. The idea is that we no longer want the prosthetic hand to feel like a tool, we want it to feel like an extension of the body,” said Aadeel Akhtar, an M.D./Ph.D. student in the neuroscience program and the medical scholars program at the University of Illinois. Akhtar is the lead author of a paper describing the sensory control module, published in Science Robotics, and the founder and CEO of PSYONIC, a startup company that develops low-cost bionic arms.

“Commercial prosthetics don’t have good sensory feedback. This is a step toward getting reliable sensory feedback to users of prosthetics,” he said.

Prosthetic arms that offer nerve stimulation have sensors in the fingertips, so that when the user comes in contact with something, an electrical signal on the skin corresponds to the amount of pressure the arm exerts. For example, a light touch would generate a light sensation, but a hard push would have a stronger signal.

However, there have been many problems with giving users reliable feedback, said aerospace engineering professor Timothy Bretl, the principal investigator of the study. During ordinary wear over time, the electrodes connected to the skin can begin to peel off, causing a buildup of electrical current on the area that remains attached, which can give the user painful shocks. Alternately, sweat can impede the connection between the electrode and the skin, so that the user feels less or even no feedback at all.

“A steady, reliable sensory experience could significantly improve a prosthetic user’s quality of life,” Bretl said.

The controller monitors the feedback the patient is experiencing and automatically adjusts the current level so that the user feels steady feedback, even when sweating or when the electrodes are 75 percent peeled off.

The researchers tested the controller on two patient volunteers. They performed a test where the electrodes were progressively peeled back and found that the control module reduced the electrical current so that the users reported steady feedback without shocks. They also had the patients perform a series of everyday tasks that could cause loss of sensation due to sweat: climbing stairs, hammering a nail into a board and running on an elliptical machine.

“What we found is that when we didn’t use our controller, the users couldn’t feel the sensation anymore by the end of the activity. However, when we had the control algorithm on, after the activity they said they could still feel the sensation just fine,” Akhtar said.

arm
A patient performs various everyday tasks with a sensory control module integrated with his prosthetic arm. NeuroscienceNews.com image is credited to Aadeel Akhtar.

Adding the controlled stimulation module would cost much less than the prosthetic itself, Akhtar said. “Although we don’t know yet the exact breakdown of costs, our goal is to have it be completely covered by insurance at no out-of-pocket costs to users.”

The group is working on miniaturizing the module that provides the electrical feedback, so that it fits inside a prosthetic arm rather than attaching to the outside. They also plan to do more extensive patient testing with a larger group of participants.

See also
This shows a blue brain
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology
·January 28, 2022·4 min read

Patients With Schizophrenia, Major Depression and Bipolar Disorder Have Distinct Reward Neural Mechanisms

“Once we get a miniaturized stimulator, we plan on doing more patient testing where they can take it home for an extended period of time and we can evaluate how it feels as they perform activities of daily living. We want our users to be able to reliably feel and hold things as delicate as a child’s hand,” Akhtar said. “This is a step toward making a prosthetic hand that becomes an extension of the body rather than just being another tool.”

About this neuroscience research article

Funding: The National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation supported this work.

Source: University of Illinois
Publisher: Organized by NeuroscienceNews.com.
Image Source: NeuroscienceNews.com image is credited to Aadeel Akhtar.
Original Research: Abstract for “Controlling sensation intensity for electrotactile stimulation in human-machine interfaces” by Aadeel Akhtar, Joseph Sombeck, Brandon Boyce and Timothy Bretl in Science Robotics. Published April 24 2018.
doi:10.1126/scirobotics.aap9770

Cite This NeuroscienceNews.com Article

[cbtabs][cbtab title=”MLA”]University of Illinois “Prosthetic Arms Can Provide Controlled Sensory Feedback.” NeuroscienceNews. NeuroscienceNews, 28 April 2018.
<https://neurosciencenews.com/sensory-feedback-prosthetics-8907/>.[/cbtab][cbtab title=”APA”]University of Illinois (2018, April 28). Prosthetic Arms Can Provide Controlled Sensory Feedback. NeuroscienceNews. Retrieved April 28, 2018 from https://neurosciencenews.com/sensory-feedback-prosthetics-8907/[/cbtab][cbtab title=”Chicago”]University of Illinois “Prosthetic Arms Can Provide Controlled Sensory Feedback.” https://neurosciencenews.com/sensory-feedback-prosthetics-8907/ (accessed April 28, 2018).[/cbtab][/cbtabs]


Abstract

Controlling sensation intensity for electrotactile stimulation in human-machine interfaces

A barrier to practical use of electrotactile stimulation for haptic feedback has been large variability in perceived sensation intensity because of changes in the impedance of the electrode-skin interface, such as when electrodes peel or users sweat. We show how to significantly reduce this variability by modulating stimulation parameters in response to measurements of impedance. Our method derives from three contributions. First, we created a model between stimulation parameters and impedance at constant perceived sensation intensity by looking at the peak pulse energy and phase charge. Our model fits experimental data better than previous models [mean correlation coefficient (r2) > 0.9] and holds over a larger set of conditions (participants, sessions, magnitudes of sensation, stimulation locations, and electrode sizes). Second, we implemented a controller that regulates perceived sensation intensity by using our model to derive a new current amplitude and pulse duration in response to changes in impedance. Our controller accurately predicts participant-chosen stimulation parameters at constant sensation intensity (mean r2 > 0.9). Third, we demonstrated as a proof of concept on two participants with below-elbow amputations—using a prosthesis with electrotactile touch feedback—that our controller can regulate sensation intensity in response to large impedance changes that occur in activities of daily living. These results make electrotactile stimulation for human-machine interfaces more reliable during activities of daily living.

Feel free to share this Neuroscience News.
Join our Newsletter
I agree to have my personal information transferred to AWeber for Neuroscience Newsletter ( more information )
Sign up to receive our recent neuroscience headlines and summaries sent to your email once a day, totally free.
We hate spam and only use your email to contact you about newsletters. You can cancel your subscription any time.
Tags
amputeeshaptic feedbackNeuroboticsNeurologyneuroprosthesisneuroprostheticsNeuroscienceNeurotechneurotechnologyprosthetic armRoboticssensory feedbacktechnologyUniversity of Illinois
ShareTweetShareShareSubmitEmail
Neuroscience News
Neuroscience News posts science research news from labs, universities, hospitals and news departments around the world. Science articles can cover neuroscience, psychology, AI, robotics, neurology, brain cancer, mental health, machine learning, autism, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, brain research, depression and other topics related to cognitive sciences.
Related
This shows a pregnant woman

Pandemic Distress May Affect Fetal Brain Development

This shows a woman sleeping on her side

On Your Back, Side, or Face-Down? How We Sleep May Trigger or Protect Our Brain From Diseases Like ALS

This shows the outline of two brains

Novel Sensors Enable Precise Measurement of Dopamine

Neuroscience News Footer Logo
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Tumblr

Neuroscience News Sitemap
Neuroscience Graduate and Undergraduate Programs
Free Neuroscience MOOCs
Neuroscience Groups
About
Contact Us
Privacy Policy
Submit Neuroscience News
Subscribe for Emails

Coronavirus News
Neuroscience Research
Psychology News
Brain Cancer Research
Alzheimer’s Disease
Parkinson’s News
Autism / ASD News
Neurotechnology News
Artificial Intelligence News
Robotics News

Search Neuroscience News

Neuroscience News
  • Neuroscience
    • Open Access Neuroscience
    • Electrophysiology
    • Neuroscience Opinions
    • Neuroscience Videos
    • Sponsored Neuroscience News
  • Neurology
    • Alzheimer’s Disease
    • Brain Research
    • Brain Cancer
    • Autism
    • Epilepsy
    • Traumatic Brain Injuries
    • Parkinson’s Disease
  • Psychology
    • Schizophrenia
    • Depression
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • Mental Health
  • AI
    • Neural Networks
    • Deep Learning
    • Machine Learning
  • Robotics
  • Genetics
  • Neurotech
    • Brain Computer Interfaces
    • Neuroprosthetics
  • About
    • Neuroscience Newsletters
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Neuroscience News
    • Neuroscience News Sitemap
    • Log In
Neuroscience News Small Logo
  • Neuroscience
    • Open Access Neuroscience
    • Electrophysiology
    • Neuroscience Opinions
    • Neuroscience Videos
    • Sponsored Neuroscience News
  • Neurology
    • Alzheimer’s Disease
    • Brain Research
    • Brain Cancer
    • Autism
    • Epilepsy
    • Traumatic Brain Injuries
    • Parkinson’s Disease
  • Psychology
    • Schizophrenia
    • Depression
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • Mental Health
  • AI
    • Neural Networks
    • Deep Learning
    • Machine Learning
  • Robotics
  • Genetics
  • Neurotech
    • Brain Computer Interfaces
    • Neuroprosthetics
  • About
    • Neuroscience Newsletters
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Neuroscience News
    • Neuroscience News Sitemap
    • Log In
Neuroscience News LogoNeuroscience News
This shows a pregnant woman

Pandemic Distress May Affect Fetal Brain Development

This shows a woman sleeping on her side

On Your Back, Side, or Face-Down? How We Sleep May Trigger or Protect Our Brain From Diseases Like ALS

This shows the outline of two brains

Novel Sensors Enable Precise Measurement of Dopamine

This shows brain scans from the study

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Shows Brain Inflammation in Vivo for the First Time

Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close
Neuroscience neurobiology brain research Psychology Neurology
See all results

Lost your password?
Forgotten Password
Cancel