Intraneural sensory feedback restores grip force control and motor coordination while using a prosthetic hand

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Hand amputation disrupts sensory and motor pathways, impacting object manipulation.
• Myoelectric prostheses offer partial motor recovery but lack effective sensory feedback.
• Restoring tactile feedback is crucial for improving prosthetic functionality and user quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate that intraneural sensory feedback of grip force enhances sensorimotor control in a transradial amputee using a myoelectric prosthesis.
• To investigate the relearned motor coordination during grasping with sensory feedback.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal study involving a single transradial amputee participant (NCT02848846).
• A stacking cups test over two weeks to assess grip force regulation.
• A pick and lift test to evaluate motor coordination and skill transfer to novel tasks.

Main Results:

• Intraneural sensory feedback improved grip force regulation and performance over time.
• The participant demonstrated generalized motor skills and improved coordination in a novel task.
• Sensory feedback facilitated better sensorimotor control during prosthetic use.

Conclusions:

• Intraneural sensory feedback shows potential for restoring functional tactile feedback in prosthetic limbs.
• This technology can significantly improve the quality of life for amputees using neural prostheses.
• Further research can advance the development of more intuitive and effective prosthetic devices.