Auditory display as a prosthetic hand sensory feedback for reaching and grasping tasks

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Rehabilitation Technology
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Upper limb amputees often rely heavily on visual feedback for prosthetic control, leading to increased cognitive load, fatigue, and frustration.
• Effective sensory feedback is crucial for improving motor-sensory performance and embodiment of prosthetic devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of an auditory display as a sensory feedback system for prosthetic hand control.
• To evaluate the effects of auditory feedback on spatio-temporal and force information during reaching and grasping tasks.

Main Methods:

• An auditory display was implemented to provide real-time feedback on the prosthetic hand's movement and force.
• Participants performed complete reaching and grasping tasks using the prosthetic hand with and without the auditory display.

Main Results:

• The auditory display significantly enhanced the temporal aspects of reaching and grasping movements.
• Grasping performance, including accuracy and stability, was markedly improved with auditory feedback.
• Users reported a reduction in mental effort and an increase in confidence when using the auditory display.

Conclusions:

• Auditory feedback is a viable and effective method for augmenting sensory information in upper limb prosthetics.
• Implementing auditory displays can lead to improved functional outcomes and user experience for amputees.
• This technology offers a promising avenue for reducing cognitive burden and enhancing the usability of prosthetic devices.