Name: testing tactile masking between the forearms
Uploaded: 2016-02-10T15:00:00.000+00:00
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Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Testing Tactile Masking between the Forearms at JoVE.com

LRH由加拿大自然科学和工程研究理事会（NSERC）的支持。 SD被部分从NSERC支持创建程序。

所有的实验都是由纽约伦理委员会批准，所有参与者都签署了知情同意书。实验是根据赫尔辛基条约进行的。 1.刺激<ol><li>触觉刺激检测<ol><li>用接触器（1.17"直径0.30"厚），可提供250赫兹振动触觉刺激100毫秒。使用专用的接触器提供旅行的量和施加的电压之间的线性关系。 </li><li>控制与64位声卡触觉刺激交付。 <ol><li>为推动接触器，把它作为一个扬声器。一个立体声音频放大器连接到一个64位的计算机立体声声卡。接触器将连接到放大器（ 例如 ，&#39;左扬声器输出"）的输出之一。放大器的第二通道（例如，"右扬声器输出"）连接到一个普通的扬声器提供听觉信号票面ticipant。 </li><li>在被控制实验的计算机代码，产生将用于以振动接触器（例如，持续时间100毫秒的一个250赫兹正弦波）的波形，和另一个波形为听觉信号（例如，一个3000赫兹正弦波用100毫秒的持续时间）。见示例代码1中的补充代码文件。 </li><li>把每两个波形的成二维阵列。为接触器阵列放信号在第一维和第二维设置为全零。对于声音阵列把信号中的第二维，并设置第一至全零。游戏在程序的适当位置合适的阵列声卡。见示例代码1中的补充编码文件中如何做到这一点的示范。 </li></ol></li><li>附加接触器到带一个基于机械紧固产品。 </li></ol></li><li>掩蔽刺激<ol><li>由电提供掩蔽刺激，哈哈ND-举行振动器（4厘米直径的;在"低"时设置83赫兹）。 </li><li>基于这样的掩蔽是要测试的领域中，选择位点，其中所述掩蔽刺激是要应用。 </li></ol></li></ol> 2.实验装置与设计<ol><li>排列在桌子上的电脑和设备，在它前面的椅子，供实验者。 </li><li>建立在参与者休息他们的左边（测试）手臂的表。放置一个椅子表中​​的右侧。把一个扶手的立场上，与会者休息的权利（屏蔽ARM）肘​​旁边的椅子。加入缓冲表和扶手的舒适。 </li><li>排列在机械分离表面的扬声器。安排踏板（连接到一个计算机鼠标的左键和右键），以便参与者的脚会舒适地靠在它们（ 图1）。 </li><li>选择研究的参数，包括所需的试验的合适数量以获得阈值（典型试验中，40〜50之间），并在其中的实验是要分割的块的数量的可靠估计（例如，每条件20-25试验两个块）。 </li><li>使在该条件下将要运行的命令的列表。使用此列表来决定在哪里举行每个块的掩蔽刺激。 </li><li>输入试验次数直接进入计算机程序代码 （例如，ntrials = 25;见补充编码文件）。确保每个块是不超过10分钟，保持关注。 </li><li>编程两个替代强迫选择触觉检测任务11中，刺激强度控制与贝叶斯适应性心理楼梯的心理过程12。 <ol><li>对于每一个试验中，本两个1秒的间隔，标记为三声蜂鸣（5千赫，3千赫和5千赫，持续时间100毫秒），在时间间隔中的一个的中间呈现的触觉刺激。有与会者我ndicate在区间的刺激是由脚踏板的方式呈现（左为先，右为秒）。见示例代码2，它显示了如何的间隔运行，并取得。 注:计算机成绩作为"正确"或"错误"和自适应楼梯响应选择下一个值作相应的介绍。 注意:此方法确定在试验位点检测该振动阈值。 </li></ol></li></ol><img alt="图1" src="/files/ftp_upload/53733/53733fig1.jpg" /> 图1。实验设计 。此图显示了试验的设置和使用的材料。详情请参阅文本。 3.实验步骤<ol><li>获得书面知情同意书。座椅用自己的脚搁在舒适的响应脚踏板，并解释了实验过程中的椅子参与者。&lt;/ LI&gt; <li>测量和记录左前臂背侧表面的长度。所以接触器被定位在肘的内侧角和手腕折痕之间的臂中途的中间应用的带子。 </li><li>松散紧裹张绷带搂着多次举行接触器的地方。 </li><li>指导参与者把桌子上的左臂搁在扶手的右手肘。眼罩参加者，以防止他们在寻找刺激或掩蔽位置，并指示他们直行整个实验一下。 </li><li>随着20做法试验（无掩蔽刺激）块，以便使与会者了解与触觉检测任务的开始，并让他们成为熟悉的触觉刺激。 </li><li>以下的做法试验中，开始实验，在一个随机的，平衡的顺序运行的条件的块。开始每个块之前，确保武器和掩蔽stimu杆菌是在正确的位置。 <ol><li>对于每个条件，保存所选择的网站上的掩蔽刺激，指的是早先提出的条件清单。因为它是运行划掉每个条件。按住掩蔽刺激整个保持近乎恒定的压力数据采集试验的每个块。掩蔽刺激可通过衣着单薄应用。 </li><li>运行试验程序作为先前选定将通过试验定数运行。引进试验的每个短块之后，2分钟的休息时间。试验的给定块完成后，选择屏蔽的刺激下工地，并再次运行该程序。重复，直到所有的试验已经完成。 </li></ol></li></ol> 4.数据分析<ol><li>可视化和确认由自适应楼梯程序返回12阈值的估计，累计高斯适合参与者的数据公式累计高斯（乙状结肠）从50％变（几率级别 - 同等数量的0 - 错误的，正确的1&#39;s-）至100％（全部为1，正确的）是: 正确的响应的概率= 0.5 + 0.5 /（1 + EXP（ - （X-X0）/标准）） 其中x是所测试的强度值，X0是75％阈值，和std是估计的标准偏差。这个公式可以安装在使用任何曲线拟合软件中的数据相比，自适应楼梯值所得X0值。 <ol><li>确保该曲线变为50％（几率性能）和100％之间。在实验（例如，不同的掩蔽位点之间）的各条件下获得的75％的阈值进行统计分析（例如，t-检验或方差分析），以确定是否存在测试条件之间的任何差异。 </li></ol></li><li>为了识别离群值，计算的平均值和对于给定的条件的标准偏差。每个参与者的得分进行比较的平均值和如果一个人的分数是从意思然后把这个比分为异常值，并从分析中取出超过2个标准差。如果需要，可以使用替代的标准。 </li><li>以规范的病理因素（这是在任意单位）的强度的值，转换（当掩蔽刺激被施加到控制现场，例如，肩部测量）它们分贝相对于控制阈值。使用这个公式: DB = 10×10日志（阈值/控制阈值）。 </li></ol>

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作者宣称，他们没有竞争的经济利益。

这里，对于对侧触觉掩蔽一个详细的协议描述，并使用该技术来测试触觉检测阈值以前发表的结果示。这种方法的优点是，阈值被使用psychophysically严格技术测量。两替代强迫选择（2AFC）过程是相对不敏感的反应偏差，因此，从注意力的影响。因为大多数数据都与靠近阈值水平刺激强度收集关于实际阈值珩磨在自适应楼梯过程是非常有效的。蒙住眼睛的参与者，并让他们直视前方吞吐量数据采集?...

触觉掩蔽是，其中在身体上的一个位置的触觉刺激改变在另一位置的触摸的感觉。这是由冯Bekesy 1率先露出位置的相互作用，特别是侧抑制，这是身体表面上的相邻的皮肤区域之间的技术。而触觉掩蔽已多年来广泛的研究，研究已经使用电刺激2，3，压力4和振动触觉刺激5,6主要研究同侧触觉掩蔽。相比之下，很少有研究着眼于对侧触觉掩蔽其中屏蔽和探测站点可能相去甚远。远距离触觉掩蔽效应已经示出镜面对称点之间的手和臂5,7 - 9但这些研究已经在很大程度上限于看手和手指的710，用全身的更广泛的地区基本上被忽视。这种远距离掩蔽实验的目的是为了表明如何人体的大脑中的代表性的成分可以功能性连接。这里，远程触觉掩蔽的现象是由调查如何施加到一个前臂振动可能会影响在相对前臂触觉敏感性阈值探讨。阈指的是需要检测的刺激的最小刺激。我们定义这个作为在该刺激被检测的75％的时间的强度。我们使用其中在一个前臂触觉敏感性（阈值的倒数）对身体的其他部分的振动刺激（掩模）的存在下测定的触觉掩模技术。有效掩蔽由增加了检测阈值，即 ，在灵敏度的降低表明。该技术可以与其它操作一起使用，如不同的肢体位置O- [R运动，探索其对屏蔽的效果影响。 在这里，我们使用振动触觉刺激作为掩蔽刺激。这样做的好处是，它刺激的频率，并且因此该受体类型可被控制。该技术可以扩展到看看使用电刺激作为探针或掩模或二者的疼痛。此外，任何部位可以用作掩蔽站点允许针刺部位例如调查。

<table><tbody><tr><td>C-2 tactor</td><td>ATAC Technology; Engineering Acoustics, Inc.</td><td></td><td>http://www.atactech.com/PR_tactors.html</td></tr><tr><td>Magic Wand</td><td>Hitachi</td><td></td><td>http://magicwandoriginal.com/magic-wand-original/</td></tr><tr><td>FC5 Foot Pedals</td><td>Yamaha Corporation</td><td></td><td>http://ca.yamaha.com/en/products/music-production/accessories/footpedals/fc5/?mode=model</td></tr><tr><td>MATLAB</td><td>The Mathworks, Inc.</td><td></td><td>http://www.mathworks.com/products/matlab/</td></tr><tr><td>Velcro</td><td>Velcro Industries B.V.</td><td></td><td>http://www.velcro.com/</td></tr></tbody></table>

testing tactile masking between the forearms

Masking, in which one stimulus affects the detection of another, is a classic technique that has been used in visual, auditory, and tactile research, usually using stimuli that are close together to reveal local interactions. Masking effects have also been demonstrated in which a tactile stimulus alters the perception of a touch at a distant location. Such effects can provide insight into how components of the body's representations in the brain may be linked. Occasional reports have indicated that touches on one hand or forearm can affect tactile sensitivity at corresponding contralateral locations. To explore the matching of corresponding points across the body, we can measure the spatial tuning and effect of posture on contralateral masking. Careful controls are required to rule out direct effects of the remote stimulus, for example by mechanical transmission, and also attention effects in which thresholds may be altered by the participant's attention being drawn away from the stimulus of interest. The use of this technique is beneficial as a behavioural measure for exploring which parts of the body are functionally connected and whether the two sides of the body interact in a somatotopic representation. This manuscript describes a behavioural protocol that can be used for studying contralateral tactile masking.

数据分析报告了13。触感上的前臂（相对于在控制条件下测得的阈值表示）被显著减少（阈值均显著增加）时振动触觉掩蔽刺激施加到相对的臂（图2A），表明前臂之间的对侧掩蔽效果。效果依赖于对掩蔽臂掩蔽刺激的位置，最大的效果发生当掩模和考点对应。 图2B示出了姿势也起着上掩蔽的效力的作用。当武器是缠绵的比较掩蔽效应是相...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Testing Tactile Masking between the Forearms at JoVE.com

Testing Tactile Masking between the Forearms

前臂之间的测试触觉掩蔽

Here we explore contralateral tactile masking between the forearms in which tactile detection thresholds are modulated by vibration applied to a remote site. The details of which remote sites have an effect can tell us about how the body is represented in the brain.

Masking, in which one stimulus affects the detection of another, is a classic technique that has been used in visual, auditory, and tactile research, ...

testing-tactile-masking-between-the-forearms

Research

JoVE Journal

Behavior

6.3K 次观看.  York University. Here we explore contralateral tactile masking between the forearms in which tactile detection thresholds are modulated by vibration applied to a remote site. The details of which remote sites have an effect can tell us about how the body is represented in the brain. 

视频: Testing Tactile Masking between the Forearms

Measurement of Vibration Detection Threshold and Tactile Spatial Acuity in Human Subjects

Tests that allow the precise determination of psychophysical thresholds for vibration and grating orientation provide valuable information about mechanosensory function that are relevant for clinical diagnosis as well as for basic research. Here, we describe two psychophysical tests designed to determine the vibration detection threshold (automated system) and tactile spatial acuity (handheld device). Both procedures implement a two-interval forced-choice and a transformed-rule up and down experimental paradigm. These tests have been used to obtain mechanosensory profiles for individuals from distinct human cohorts such as twins or people with sensorineural deafness.

Here, we present protocols to determine vibration detection thresholds and tactile acuity using psychophysical methods in man.

振动检测阈值和触觉敏锐的空间在人类受试者的测量

Tests that allow the precise determination of psychophysical thresholds for vibration and grating orientation provide valuable information about ...

科研

行为学

Creating Virtual-hand and Virtual-face Illusions to Investigate Self-representation

Studies investigating how people represent themselves and their own body often use variants of &#34;ownership illusions&#34;, such as the traditional rubber-hand illusion or the more recently discovered enfacement illusion. However, these examples require rather artificial experimental setups, in which the artificial effector needs to be stroked in synchrony with the participants&#39; real hand or face&#8212;a situation in which participants have no control over the stroking or the movements of their real or artificial effector. Here, we describe a technique to establish ownership illusions in a setup that is more realistic, more intuitive, and of presumably higher ecological validity. It allows creating the virtual-hand illusion by having participants control the movements of a virtual hand presented on a screen or in virtual space in front of them. If the virtual hand moves in synchrony with the participants&#39; own real hand, they tend to perceive the virtual hand as part of their own body. The technique also creates the virtual-face illusion by having participants control the movements of a virtual face in front of them, again with the effect that they tend to perceive the face as their own if it moves in synchrony with their real face. Studying the circumstances that illusions of this sort can be created, increased, or reduced provides important information about how people create and maintain representations of themselves.

Here, we describe virtual-hand and virtual-face illusion paradigms that can be used to study body-related self-perception/-representation. They have already been used in various studies to demonstrate that, under specific conditions, a virtual hand or face can be incorporated into one&#39;s body representation, suggesting that body representations are rather flexible.

创建虚拟手和虚拟面对面幻想调查自我表现

Studies investigating how people represent themselves and their own body often use variants of &#34;ownership illusions&#34;, such as the traditional ...

A Simple Non-invasive Method for Temporary Knockdown of Upper Limb Proprioception

Proprioception may be the least well measured of all contributors to the neural control of movement. New precise, reliable measures of proprioception are needed for clinical diagnosis of impairment, and to measure outcomes of proprioceptive training. The purpose of this simple, non-invasive method is to temporarily knockdown upper limb proprioception in healthy adults, to an extent that would be useful in the development and testing of upper limb proprioception measures. Knockdown models have two main advantages over studying humans with impaired proprioception: participant availability and the ability to control the extent of impairment across participants. Current published methods of temporary proprioception knockdown of the upper limb, such as ischemic nerve blocks and cryotherapy, are invasive, impractical, or uncomfortable for the participant. Here, vibration over the ulnar groove was used to reduce upper limb proprioception. High frequency vibration may reduce proprioceptive acuity by inhibiting pacinian corpuscle-induced input. The effect of vibration used in this protocol was confirmed using two quantitative measures. This method was simple to administer, comfortable for participants, and practical.

The goal of this protocol is to demonstrate a practical method to temporarily interfere with proprioception in the upper limb of healthy humans.

一种简单无创的上肢本体临时击倒方法

Proprioception may be the least well measured of all contributors to the neural control of movement. New precise, reliable measures of proprioception are ...

Using Facial Electromyography to Assess Facial Muscle Reactions to Experienced and Observed Affective Touch in Humans

"Affective" touch is believed to be processed in a manner distinct from discriminatory touch and to involve activation of C-tactile (CT) afferent fibers. Touch that optimally activates CT fibers is consistently rated as hedonically pleasant. Patient groups with impaired social-emotional functioning also show disordered affective touch ratings. However, relying on self-reported ratings of touch has many limitations, including recall bias and communication barriers. Here, we describe a methodological approach to study affective responses to touch via facial electromyography (EMG) that circumvents the reliance on self-report ratings. Facial EMG is an objective, quantitative, and non-invasive method to measure facial muscle activity indicative of affective responses. Responses can be assessed across healthy and patient populations without the need for verbal communication. Here, we provide two separate datasets demonstrating that CT-optimal and non-optimal touch elicit distinct facial muscle reactions. Moreover, facial EMG responses are consistent across stimulus modalities, e.g. tactile (experienced touch) and visual (observed touch). Finally, the temporal resolution of facial EMG can detect responses on timescales that supersede that of verbal reporting. Together, our data suggest that facial EMG is a suitable methodology for use in affective tactile research that can be used to supplement, or in some cases, supplant, existing measures.

We describe a protocol to assess facial muscle activity in response to experienced and observed tactile stimulation using facial electromyography.

面部肌电图对人体有经验和观察到的情感触觉的影响评估

"Affective" touch is believed to be processed in a manner distinct from discriminatory touch and to involve activation of C-tactile (CT) afferent fibers. ...

Applying Incongruent Visual-Tactile Stimuli during Object Transfer with Vibro-Tactile Feedback

The application of incongruent sensory signals that involves disrupted tactile feedback is rarely explored, specifically with the presence of vibrotactile feedback (VTF). This protocol aims to test the effect of VTF on the response to incongruent visual-tactile stimuli. The tactile feedback is acquired by grasping a block and moving it across a partition. The visual feedback is a real-time virtual presentation of the moving block, acquired using a motion capture system. The congruent feedback is the reliable presentation of the movement of the block, so that the subject feels that the block is grasped and see it move along with the path of the hand. The incongruent feedback appears as the movement of the block diverts from the actual movement path, so that it seems to drop from the hand when it is actually still held by the subject, thereby contradicting the tactile feedback. Twenty subjects (age 30.2 &#177; 16.3) repeated 16 block transfers, while their hand was hidden. These were repeated with VTF and without VTF (total of 32 block transfers). Incongruent stimuli were presented randomly twice within the 16 repetitions in each condition (with and without VTF). Each subject was asked to rate the difficulty level of performing the task with and without the VTF. There were no statistically significant differences in the length of the hand paths and durations between transfers recorded with congruent and incongruent visual-tactile signals &#8211; with and without the VTF. The perceived difficulty level of performing the task with the VTF significantly correlated with the normalized path length of the block with VTF (r = 0.675, p = 0.002). This setup is used to quantify the additive or reductive value of VTF during motor function that involves incongruent visual-tactile stimuli. Possible applications are prosthetics design, smart sport-wear, or any other garments that incorporate VTF.

We present a protocol to apply incongruent visual-tactile stimuli during an object transfer task. Specifically, during block transfers, performed while the hand is hidden, a virtual presentation of the block shows random occurrences of false block drops. The protocol also describes adding vibrotactile feedback while performing the motor task.

在振动触觉反馈的对象传递过程中应用不一致的视觉触觉刺激

The application of incongruent sensory signals that involves disrupted tactile feedback is rarely explored, specifically with the presence of vibrotactile ...

A Tactile Automated Passive-Finger Stimulator (TAPS)

Although tactile spatial acuity tests are used in both neuroscience research and clinical assessment, few automated devices exist for delivering controlled spatially structured stimuli to the skin. Consequently, investigators often apply tactile stimuli manually. Manual stimulus application is time consuming, requires great care and concentration on the part of the investigator, and leaves many stimulus parameters uncontrolled. We describe here a computer-controlled tactile stimulus system, the Tactile Automated Passive-finger Stimulator (TAPS), that applies spatially structured stimuli to the skin, controlling for onset velocity, contact force, and contact duration. TAPS is a versatile, programmable system, capable of efficiently conducting a variety of psychophysical procedures. We describe the components of TAPS, and show how TAPS is used to administer a two-interval forced-choice tactile grating orientation test.
Corresponding Author: Daniel Goldreich

A Tactile Automated Passive-Finger Stimulator TAPS

We describe a computer-controlled device for investigating the sense of touch: the Tactile Automated Passive-finger Stimulator (TAPS). We describe the components of TAPS, and show how TAPS is used to administer a two-interval forced-choice tactile grating orientation test.

自动化被动手指触觉刺激器（TAPS）

Although tactile spatial acuity tests are used in both neuroscience research and clinical assessment, few automated devices exist for delivering ...

生物学

A Standardized Method for Measurement of Elbow Kinesthesia

Proprioception is an important component of controlled movement. The threshold to detection of passive movement (TDPM) is a commonly used method for quantifying the proprioceptive submodality of kinesthesia in research settings. The TDPM paradigm has been found to be valid and reliable; however, the equipment and methods used for TDPM vary between studies. In particular, the research laboratory apparatuses for producing passive movement of an extremity are often custom designed by individual laboratories or inaccessible due to high cost. There is a need for a standardized, valid, and reliable method for measuring TDPM using readily available equipment. The purpose of this protocol is to provide a standardized method for measurement of TDPM at the elbow that is economical, easy to administer, and that produces quantitative results for measurement purposes in research-based settings. This method was tested on 20 healthy adults without neurological impairment, and eight adults with chronic stroke. The results obtained suggest this method is a reliable way to quantify elbow TDPM in healthy adults, and provides initial support for validity. Researchers seeking a balance between equipment affordability and measurement precision are most likely to find this protocol of benefit.

Here, we present a standardized method for measurement of elbow passive kinesthesia using the threshold to detection of passive movement (TDPM) that is appropriate for a research setting.

肘部运动麻醉的标准化测量方法

Proprioception is an important component of controlled movement. The threshold to detection of passive movement (TDPM) is a commonly used method for ...

Non-Invasive Modulation and Robotic Mapping of Motor Cortex in the Developing Brain

Mapping the motor cortex with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has potential to interrogate motor cortex physiology and plasticity but carries unique challenges in children. Similarly, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can improve motor learning in adults but has only recently been applied to children. The use of tDCS and emerging techniques like high&#8211;definition tDCS (HD-tDCS) require special methodological considerations in the developing brain. Robotic TMS motor mapping may confer unique advantages for mapping, particularly in the developing brain. Here, we aim to provide a practical, standardized approach for two integrated methods capable of simultaneously exploring motor cortex modulation and motor maps in children. First, we describe a protocol for robotic TMS motor mapping. Individualized, MRI-navigated 12x12 grids centered on the motor cortex guide a robot to administer single-pulse TMS. Mean motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitudes per grid point are used to generate 3D motor maps of individual hand muscles with outcomes including map area, volume, and center of gravity. Tools to measure safety and tolerability of both methods are also included. Second, we describe the application of both tDCS and HD-tDCS to modulate the motor cortex and motor learning. An experimental training paradigm and sample results are described. These methods will advance the application of non-invasive brain stimulation in children.

We demonstrate protocols for the modulation (tDCS, HD-tDCS) and mapping (robotic TMS) of the motor cortex in children.

发育中大脑运动皮质的非侵入性调制和机器人映射

Mapping the motor cortex with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has potential to interrogate motor cortex physiology and plasticity but carries ...

神经科学

Capturing Dynamic Finger Gesturing with High-resolution Surface Electromyography and Computer Vision

Finger gestures are a critical element in human communication, and as such, finger gesture recognition is widely studied as a human-computer interface for state-of-the-art prosthetics and optimized rehabilitation. Surface electromyography (sEMG), in conjunction with deep learning methods, is considered a promising method in this domain. However, current methods often rely on cumbersome recording setups and the identification of static hand positions, limiting their effectiveness in real-world applications. The protocol we report here presents an advanced approach combining a wearable surface EMG and finger&#160;tracking system to capture comprehensive data during dynamic hand movements. The method records muscle activity from soft printed electrode arrays (16 electrodes) placed on the forearm as subjects perform gestures in different hand positions and during movement. Visual instructions prompt subjects to perform specific gestures while EMG and finger positions are recorded. The integration of synchronized EMG recordings and finger tracking data enables comprehensive analysis of muscle activity patterns and corresponding gestures. The reported approach demonstrates the potential of combining EMG and visual tracking technologies as an important resource for developing intuitive and responsive gesture recognition systems with applications in prosthetics, rehabilitation, and interactive technologies. This protocol aims to guide researchers and practitioners, fostering further innovation and application of gesture recognition in dynamic and real-world scenarios.

The paper presents a comprehensive protocol for simultaneously recording hand-electromyography (EMG) and visual finger tracking during natural finger gesturing. The visual data is designed to serve as the ground truth for the development of accurate EMG-based computational models for finger gesture recognition.

使用高分辨率表面肌电图和计算机视觉捕捉动态手指手势

Finger gestures are a critical element in human communication, and as such, finger gesture recognition is widely studied as a human-computer interface for ...

生物工程

Assessing Corticospinal Excitability During Goal-Directed Reaching Behavior

Reaching is a widely studied behavior in motor physiology and neuroscience research. While reaching has been examined using a variety of behavioral manipulations, there remain significant gaps in the understanding of the neural processes involved in reach planning, execution, and control. The novel approach described here combines a two-dimensional reaching task with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and concurrent electromyography (EMG) recording from multiple muscles. This method allows for the noninvasive detection of corticospinal activity at precise time points during the unfolding of reaching movements. The example task code includes a delayed response reaching task with two possible targets displayed &#177; 45&#176; off the midline. Single pulse TMS is delivered on the majority of task trials, either at the onset of the preparatory cue (baseline) or 100 ms prior to the imperative cue (delay). This sample design is suitable for investigating changes in corticospinal excitability during reach preparation. The sample code also includes a visuomotor perturbation (i.e., cursor rotation of &#177; 20&#176;) to investigate the effects of adaptation on corticospinal excitability during reach preparation. The task parameters and TMS delivery can be adjusted to address specific hypotheses about the state of the motor system during reaching behavior. In the initial implementation, motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were successfully elicited on 83% of TMS trials, and reach trajectories were recorded on all trials.

Reaching is a fundamental skill that allows humans to interact with the environment. Several studies have aimed to characterize reaching behavior using a variety of methodologies. This paper offers an open-source application of transcranial magnetic stimulation to assess the state of corticospinal excitability in humans during reaching task performance.

评估目标导向到达行为期间的皮质脊髓兴奋性

Reaching is a widely studied behavior in motor physiology and neuroscience research. While reaching has been examined using a variety of behavioral ...