title: A novel integrated mechanomyogram-vocalization access solution.
abstract: We introduce a novel dual-switch control paradigm based on the simultaneous measurement of frontalis muscle mechanomyography (MMG) and vocalizations (humming) using a single contact microphone attached to the forehead. Vibrations of the face and skull during vocalization are manifested as periodic high-frequency components in the microphone signal recorded at the forehead. The presence of these periodic components is detected by a normalized cross-correlation function, while muscle contractions are detected using a continuous wavelet transform method. The dual-switch provides two independent binary control signals. Eleven participants, including one individual with severe physical disabilities, participated in a cued activation task in which the dual-switch exhibited sensitivities and specificities of 96.8±3% and 98.4±1%, respectively for vocalizations, and 99.7±0.5% and 99.2±0.5%, respectively for muscle contractions. Since skin vibrations due to voiced sounds and muscle contractions have non-overlapping dominant bandwidths, the performance of the MMG switch was not affected by vocalizations. This new integrated MMG-vocalization access solution affords the user two binary switches from a single access site, and may thus augment access alternatives for certain individuals with severe physical disabilities.
authors.affiliation: Bloorview Research Institute, Bloorview Kids Rehab, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Tiago H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Falk
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005546:Forehead; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009213:Myography / Q000379:methods*; D018511:Systems Integration; D014831:Voice / Q000502:physiology*