Discrete Tactile Feedback Based on Weber's Law Enhances Prosthetic Hand Approaching Performance Under Divided Visual...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Prosthetic hand control is challenging for amputees, especially under divided visual attention.
• Reliance on peripheral vision necessitates effective sensory feedback for accurate object manipulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate if effective sensory feedback enhances prosthetic hand control during object approach with divided visual attention.
• To quantify the impact of different sensory feedback strategies on object approach and manipulation tasks.

Main Methods:

• Two experimental tasks (APPROACHING, PINCH) were conducted under full-vision and partial-vision conditions.
• Four feedback conditions were compared: PURE, CONT, ADIS, and a novel Weber's Law Discrete Strategy (WDIS).
• Performance metrics included position error, dispersion, task completion time, and pinch failures; psychological factors were assessed via questionnaire.

Main Results:

• WDIS significantly improved object approach accuracy and stability.
• WDIS led to shorter task completion times, enhancing subsequent manipulation.
• Participants reported reduced workload and increased intuitiveness with WDIS, improving psychological experience.

Conclusions:

• The novel WDIS sensory feedback strategy enhances prosthetic control and user experience.
• WDIS offers a promising foundation for real-world prosthetic hand applications.
• Effective sensory feedback is crucial for improving prosthetic function under challenging visual conditions.