Visuomotor behaviours when using a myoelectric prosthesis

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Myoelectric prosthesis use differs in gaze patterns compared to intact individuals.
• Gaze behavior may reflect compensatory strategies for proprioceptive deficits and control system delays.
• Understanding visuomotor behavior is crucial for improving prosthesis design and user experience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize visuomotor behaviors during the learning process of using a trans-radial myoelectric prosthesis.
• To compare visuomotor behaviors between intact individuals using a prosthesis simulator and experienced amputee prosthesis users.

Main Methods:

• Seven anatomically intact subjects learned to use a trans-radial prosthesis simulator, performing a functional task.
• Gaze behavior, task movement time, and hand function (SHAP test) were recorded.
• Visuomotor patterns were compared between simulator users and experienced amputee prosthesis users.

Main Results:

• Intact subjects using the simulator focused ~90% of visual attention on the hand or object during reaching and grasping.
• This gaze pattern remained consistent with training and was similar to experienced amputee users.
• Task duration initially increased for simulator users but decreased to levels comparable to amputee users after training.

Conclusions:

• This study provides the first functional description of gaze behaviors during myoelectric prosthesis use.
• Gaze behaviors demonstrated relative insensitivity to practice.
• Significant similarities in visuomotor behaviors were observed between amputee and prosthesis simulator users.