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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 17, 2026

Characterization of the Sense of Agency over the Actions of Neural-machine Interface-operated Prostheses

Characterization of the Sense of Agency over the Actions of Neural-machine Interface-operated Prostheses

Published on: January 7, 2019

Motor cortical activity changes during neuroprosthetic-controlled object interaction.

John E Downey^1,2, Lucas Brane³, Robert A Gaunt^1,2,3,4

¹Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

Scientific Reports

|December 7, 2017

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Brain-computer interface (BCI) control for prosthetic arms can be improved by accounting for neural representations of objects. This study found that motor cortical activity reflects object presence, enhancing BCI performance in users with paralysis.

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Last Updated: Feb 17, 2026

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Biomedical Engineering
Rehabilitation Technology

Background:

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) aim to restore function for individuals with paralysis.
BCI control can be challenging during object interaction tasks.
The neural basis for BCI performance changes during object interaction is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate how motor cortical activity changes in the presence of an object.
To determine if accounting for neural representations of objects can improve BCI performance.
To analyze neural activity during complex tasks using intracortical recordings.

Main Methods:

Intracortical recordings were obtained from two individuals with tetraplegia.
Motor cortical activity was analyzed during object interaction tasks.
An online scaling feature was developed and implemented in the BCI system.

Main Results:

A population-wide increase in neural firing rates was identified when the hand was near an object.
The online scaling feature improved robotic arm control for grasping and transporting objects.
Neural representations of the environment are consistently present in motor cortex.

Conclusions:

Motor cortical activity reflects the presence of objects, independent of movement kinematics.
Accounting for environmental representations in motor cortex can enhance BCI performance.
This research suggests a pathway for improving prosthetic arm control for individuals with upper-limb paralysis.