Towards Personalization of Robot-Assisted Motor Learning Based on User Characteristics: Haptic Guidance seems better suited for individuals with a more Internal rather than External Locus of Control

Robots can aid in post-stroke motor function recovery and motor learning through the use of haptic feedback during collaborative training. A clear objective in robotic-assisted motor learning is to adapt the haptic feedback to individual users, but personal characteristics are not yet considered in this adaptation. <br/><br/>We investigated the...

Simulating Human Motor Learning: An Old Solution in New Environments

Feedback error learning (FEL) is a classical computational model that describes human motor learning. It consists of forward and inverse models representing internal dynamics and environmental disturbances. Such models can be used as controllers that represent the function of the motor cortex. On top of FEL, a model has been built with jointly...

Haptically Enhanced Motor Variability Shows Contrary Effects on Transfer of Learning

In order to improve skill acquisition and neurorehabilitation, we need to improve our understanding of human motor learning. It has been shown that innate variability of movements made by an individual when performing a motor task (motor variability) might enhance skill acquisition. Augmenting motor variability could therefore be a promising...

Towards functional robotic training: motor learning of dynamic tasks is enhanced by haptic rendering but hampered by arm weight support

BACKGROUND: Current robot-aided training allows for high-intensity training but might hamper the transfer of learned skills to real daily tasks. Many of these tasks, e.g., carrying a cup of coffee, require manipulating objects with complex dynamics. Thus, the absence of somatosensory information regarding the interaction with virtual objects...

Providing Task Instructions During Motor Training Enhances Performance and Modulates Attentional Brain Networks

Learning a new motor task is a complex cognitive and motor process. Especially early during motor learning, cognitive functions such as attentional engagement, are essential, e.g., to discover relevant visual stimuli. Drawing participant’s attention towards task-relevant stimuli—e.g., with task instructions using visual cues or explicit...

Promoting Motor Variability During Robotic Assistance Enhances Motor Learning of Dynamic Tasks

Despite recent advances in robot-assisted training, the benefits of haptic guidance on motor (re)learning are still limited. While haptic guidance may increase task performance during training, it may also decrease participants' effort and interfere with the perception of the environment dynamics, hindering somatosensory information crucial...

Theta but not beta power is positively associated with better explicit motor task learning

Neurophysiologic correlates of motor learning that can be monitored during neurorehabilitation interventions can facilitate the development of more effective learning methods. Previous studies have focused on the role of the beta band (14–30 Hz) because of its clear response during motor activity. However, it is difficult to discriminate...

Haptic training: Which types facilitate (re)learning of which motor task and for whom Answers by a review

The use of robots has attracted researchers to design numerous haptic training methods to support motor learning. However, investigations of new methods yielded inconclusive results regarding their effectiveness to enhance learning due to the diversity of tasks, haptic designs, participants skill level, and study protocols. In this review, we...

Interindividual variability in use-dependent plasticity following visuomotor learning: The effect of handedness and muscle trained

Motor learning has been linked with increases in corticospinal excitability (CSE). However, the robustness of this link is unclear. In this study, changes in CSE associated with learning a visuomotor tracking task were mapped using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). TMS maps were obtained before and after training with the first dorsal...

Improving Learning Performance in a Reaching Task by Real-time Adaptation of Augmented Error Feedback Rules

Neurologically impaired patients can regain motor function by engaging in rehabilita- tion. Currently there is no conclusive evidence that robotic rehabilitation has better clinical results than conventional rehabilitation but robotic rehabil- itation has the potential to increase efficiency and patient motivation, justifying improvement of reha...

Is breaking it down better?: Enhancing motor learning via controlled sensory-motor integration

Complex motions are generally accepted as movements which consists of at least 2 Degrees of Freedom (DoFs) actuated in a coordinated manner, which takes more than one practice session to be mastered, and that are ecologically valid (see Wulf et al. 2002 for a clear statement). <br/><br/>The techniques to teach and re-teach (also, (re-)learn) a...

The learning process of gait retraining using real-time feedback in patients with medial knee osteoarthritis

The objective of this study was to investigate the learning process of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients learning to change their foot progression angle (FPA) over a six-week toe-in gait training program. Sixteen patients with medial KOA completed a six-week toe-in gait training program with real-time biofeedback. Patients walked on an...

Movement state noise and output noise relate to visuomotor adaptation rate in an optimal way

Human movement relies on noisy processes in neurons, muscle cells and sensory cells. Therefore, movements are variable and can never be exactly reproduced. The nervous system seems to exploit this movement noise for motor learning and specifically motor adaptation. However, a positive relation between movement noise and motor adaptation has not...

The TMS Motor Map does not change following a single session of mirror training either with or without motor imagery

Both motor imagery and mirror training have been used in motor rehabilitation settings to promote skill learning and plasticity. As motor imagery and mirror training are suggested to be closely linked, it was hypothesized that mirror training augmented by motor imagery would increase corticospinal excitability (CSE) significantly compared to...

Early motor learning changes in upper-limb dynamics and shoulder complex loading during handrim wheelchair propulsion

Background To propel in an energy-efficient manner, handrim wheelchair users must learn to control the bimanually applied forces onto the rims, preserving both speed and direction of locomotion. Previous studies have found an increase in mechanical efficiency due to motor learning associated with changes in propulsion technique, but it is...

Intrinsic and reflexive contributions to endpoint stiffness during motor learning of unstable force fields

Endpoint stiffness is known to increase in the direction of instability during learning to accurately execute unstable motor tasks. Reflexes might be present in the time interval used for endpoint stiffness calculations suggesting a possible influence of reflexes on endpoint stiffness measurements. In addition, changes of reflexes during motor...