title: Object discrimination with an artificial hand using electrical stimulation of peripheral tactile and proprioceptive pathways with intrafascicular electrodes.
abstract: Trans-radial amputee subjects were implanted with intrafascicular electrodes in the stumps of the median and ulnar nerves. Electrical stimulation through these electrodes was used to provide sensations of touch and finger position referred to the amputated hand. Two subjects were asked to identify different objects as to size and stiffness by manipulating them with a myo-electric hand without visual or auditory cues. Both subjects were provided with information about contact force with the objects via tactile sensations referred to their phantom hands. One subject, who was provided with information about finger position in the prosthetic hand via a different tactile sensation referred to his phantom hand, was unable to correctly identify the objects. The other subject, who received information about finger position via a proprioceptive sensation referred to his phantom hand, correctly identified the objects at a level statistically significantly above chance performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA. k.horch@utah.edu
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Horch
authors.forename: Sanford
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meek
authors.forename: Tyson G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Douglas T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Hutchinson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D000674:Amputees; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D004576:Electromyography; D005246:Feedback; D005385:Fingers / Q000502:physiology; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000502:physiology*; D010591:Phantom Limb; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology*; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology*; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000502:physiology