Sensory Feedback for Touch and Proprioception With Prosthetic Limbs

Sensory Feedback Tactor Systems for Implementation of Physiologically Relevant Cutaneous Touch and Proprioception With Prosthetic Limbs

Upper limb amputation is a devastating injury that leaves many thousands of typically young and active individuals in the US to rely on artificial arms and hands to help restore their lost function. The investigators research is focused on helping these individuals to feel where their prosthetic limbs are moving without having to look at them by developing devices and approaches to provide sensory feedback of limb movement through the nerves that once served the missing limb.

In the investigators research the investigators seek to understand the organization and (function/operation) of sensory neural systems in order to develop methods for restoring function to injured populations. One of the primary focus areas of the investigators research is working to integrate physiologically relevant sensory feedback with prosthetic limbs. To this end the investigators employ a variety of approaches that interweave disciplines such as electrophysiology, psychophysics, biomedical engineering and cognition. The investigators research team is composed of an interconnected and communicative network of clinicians, engineers, and scientists. This helps us to provide pathways from basic science discoveries that can be used to address clinical needs with transition directly to patient care.

Inclusion Criteria:

Amputee criteria:

• Must be over 18 years of age
• Must be upper extremity amputee who has undergone targeted sensory reinnervation.

Able Bodied participants:

• Must be over 18 years of age