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...

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...

Naturalistic visualization of reaching movements using head-mounted displays improves movement quality compared to conventional computer screens and proves high usability

Background: The relearning of movements after brain injury can be optimized by providing intensive, meaningful, and motivating training using virtual reality (VR). However, most current solutions use two-dimensional (2D) screens, where patients interact via symbolic representations of their limbs (e.g., a cursor). These 2D screens lack depth...

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...

A Novel Clinical-Driven Design for Robotic Hand Rehabilitation: Combining Sensory Training, Effortless Setup, and Large Range of Motion in a Palmar Device

Neurorehabilitation research suggests that not only high training intensity, but also somatosensory information plays a fundamental role in the recovery of stroke patients. Yet, there is currently a lack of easy-to-use robotic solutions for sensorimotor hand rehabilitation. We addressed this shortcoming by developing a novel clinical-driven...

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...

Changes in H-reflex recruitment after trans-spinal direct current stimulation with multiple electrode configurations

Trans-spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS) is an electro-modulatory tool with possible application in the rehabilitation of spinal cord injury. TsDCS generates a small electric field, aiming to induce lasting, functional neuromodulation in the targeted neuronal networks. Earlier studies have shown significant modulatory effects after...

Flexible active electrode arrays with ASICs that fit inside the rat’s spinal canal

Epidural spinal cord electrical stimulation (ESCS) has been used as a means to facilitate locomotor recovery in spinal cord injured humans. Electrode arrays, instead of conventional pairs of electrodes, are necessary to investigate the effect of ESCS at different sites. These usually require a large number of implanted wires, which could lead to...

Flexible active electrode arrays with ASICs that fit inside the rat's spinal canal

Epidural spinal cord electrical stimulation (ESCS) has been used as a means to facilitate locomotor recovery in spinal cord injured humans. Electrode arrays, instead of conventional pairs of electrodes, are necessary to investigate the effect of ESCS at different sites. These usually require a large number of implantedwires,which could lead to...

It's how you get there: Walking down a virtual alley activates premotor and parietal areas

Voluntary drive is crucial for motor learning, therefore we are interested in the role that motor planning plays in gait movements. In this study we examined the impact of an interactive Virtual Environment (VE) feedback task on the EEG patterns during robot assisted walking. We compared walking in the VE modality to two control conditions:...