Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 30, 2026

Characterization of the Sense of Agency over the Actions of Neural-machine Interface-operated Prostheses
Published on: January 7, 2019
Sensory substitution and the human-machine interface
Paul Bach-y-Rita1, Stephen W Kercel
1Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA. pbachyri@facstaff.wisc.edu
Abstract:
Recent advances in the instrumentation technology of sensory substitution have presented new opportunities to develop systems for compensation of sensory loss. In sensory substitution (e.g. of sight or vestibular function), information from an artificial receptor is coupled to the brain via a human-machine interface. The brain is able to use this information in place of that usually transmitted from an intact sense organ. Both auditory and tactile systems show promise for practical sensory substitution interface sites. This research provides experimental tools for examining brain plasticity and has implications for perceptual and cognition studies more generally.
Related Concept Videos
Somatosensation
Introduction to Special Senses
Sensory Modalities
General senses refer to the broad category of sensory information detected by receptors in the body and can be further grouped into somatic and visceral senses. Somatic sensations include touch, pressure, temperature, and pain and are essential for navigating our environment and...
Sensory Perception: Organization of the Somatosensory System
The receptor level:
The receptor level is the first stage of sensation. It involves the detection of a stimulus by specialized sensory receptors. The stimulus must arrive within the receptor's receptive field. Next, the receptor converts the energy of the stimulus...
Control Systems: Applications
In modern vehicles, control systems manage various functions to enhance performance and safety. The steering wheel and accelerator are primary inputs in a car's control system. The direction...
What is a Sensory System?
