Spatial localization of electrotactile stimuli on the fingertip in humans

Bobich, Lisa R.; Warren, Jay P.; Sweeney, James; Tillery, Stephen I. Helms; Santello, Marco

doi:10.1080/08990220701637232

Cited by 18 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Each electrode area is 0.454 mm 2 with a density of 32 electrodes per cm 2 and spaced 2 mm apart from one another. These values are roughly consistent with reported spatial resolution of the relevant tactile receptors at the fingertips (Bobich et al 2007;Kajimoto et al 2004;Shen et al 2006;Kaczmarek and Webster 1991). The electrode array board is a custom-manufactured printed circuit board (PCB).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 72%

“…For example, the tongue (Kaczmarek and Tyler 2000;Bach-y-Rita et al 1998a, b), the abdomen (Haase and Kaczmarek 2005), and fingertip (Koo et al 2006;Kaczmarek et al 1994;Shimojo et al 2003;Szeto and Riso 1990;Szeto and Saunders 1982;Bobich et al 2007;Kajimoto et al 2002Kajimoto et al , 2004 are the areas most commonly studied to assess the ability of human subjects to detect and identify patterns using these devices. This research has shown that electrical stimuli can effectively deliver a significant amount of information about patterns of stimuli; thus, ample research supports the notion that electrical stimuli are a viable means for delivering sensory information in rehabilitation therapy (Kaczmarek and Webster 1991).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several research findings in the areas of psychophysics, neurocytology, electrochemistry, and cognitive science have shown that mechanical or electrical stimulation to these mechanoreceptors produces tactile feelings in humans (Bobich et al 2007;Faes and Meij 1999;Pliquett et al 1995;Foster and Lukaski 1996;Phillips and Johnson 1985;Neuman 1998;Reilly 1992;Vallbo 1981;Rattay 1990). Following on these explorations, extensive research in rehabilitation engineering has been performed to elucidate the properties, characteristics, and mechanisms underlying the sensation of touch delivered through electrode arrays on the fingertip skin (Koo et al 2006;Kaczmarek et al 1994;Shimojo et al 2003;Szeto and Riso 1990;Szeto and Saunders 1982;Bobich et al 2007;Kajimoto et al 2002Kajimoto et al , 2004Yoon and Yu 2008). Such electro-tactile research and development has provided the potential for advancement of assistive, diagnostic, and rehabilitative devices such as Braille readers, sensory substitution, teleoperation and telepresence, and computer games (Koo et al 2006;Shimojo et al 2003;Shen 2007;Shen et al 2006;Pliquett et al 1995;BenaliKhoudja et al 2004;Gemperle et al 2001;Rossi 2005;Yarimaga et al 2005a, b;Kajimoto et al 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2 (adapted from Kajimoto et al 2004). Several research findings in the areas of psychophysics, neurocytology, electrochemistry, and cognitive science have shown that mechanical or electrical stimulation to these mechanoreceptors produces tactile feelings in humans (Bobich et al 2007;Faes and Meij 1999;Pliquett et al 1995;Foster and Lukaski 1996;Phillips and Johnson 1985;Neuman 1998;Reilly 1992;Vallbo 1981;Rattay 1990). Following on these explorations, extensive research in rehabilitation engineering has been performed to elucidate the properties, characteristics, and mechanisms underlying the sensation of touch delivered through electrode arrays on the fingertip skin (Koo et al 2006;Kaczmarek et al 1994;Shimojo et al 2003;Szeto and Riso 1990;Szeto and Saunders 1982;Bobich et al 2007;Kajimoto et al 2002Kajimoto et al , 2004Yoon and Yu 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Bio-impedance identification of fingertip skin for enhancement of electro-tactile-based preference

Gregory¹,

Tang

Luo

et al. 2017

Int J Intell Robot Appl

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Research in rehabilitation engineering has shown that electrodes can produce tactile sensations with appropriate electrical signals to stimulate the multiple tactile receptors located under the fingertip skin. Numerous equivalent skin-electrode interfaces have been modeled to characterize the electrical properties of the skin; however, the values of these circuit models are continually changing, due both to the nonlinearity associated with human fingertip skin and to individual user differences. As a result, electrical stimulation that is suitable in terms of current or voltage level for tactile sensations cannot be guaranteed for every user. An identification method is then necessary for characterizing the parameters of the skin-electrode interface circuit model so as to improve rendering consistency and comfort for every user regardless of skin condition. In this paper, we introduce a custom-built electro-tactile display terminal, and then using this display terminal for data collection, we present an online identification scheme for determining the bio-impedance parameters of the wellknown Cole-Cole circuit model for the skin-electrode interface. For this, a modified Kalman least squares iterative approach is used that relies on measuring only one-port square wave stimulation voltages. The repeatability and reliability of the identification scheme are tested by identifying the resistor-capacitor (RC) load bio-impedance networks of different users with both a dry and slightly damp index fingertip over multiple identification trials. Additionally, because of the inevitable variation in the parameters over multiple measurements, the repeatability of multiple calculated RC models (dry and wet) is further evaluated. The significance of our work is that it greatly improves the tactile rendering performance of electrical stimulation (electro-tactile) systems and will benefit the development of electro-tactile-based rehabilitative robotic devices and human-robot interfaces.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 72%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Bio-impedance identification of fingertip skin for enhancement of electro-tactile-based preference

Gregory¹,

Tang

Luo

et al. 2017

Int J Intell Robot Appl

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“…Using the techniques and stimulus trains we previously developed [14], [47], we tested the effect of nine hand postures on the perceptions of the four stimulus trains across the fingertips to determine how hand posture affected perception of this illusion. The nine postures were: (1) an Adducted posture (Figure 2(a)), where all fingers were extended and adducted, (2) an All-Flexed posture (Figure 2(b)) where all the fingertips were flexed and adducted, (3–5) postures where the Index- , Middle- , or Ring- fingertips were individually Flexed (Figures 2(h), (c), and (i) respectively) while the remainder of the fingers were positioned in a similar manner to the Adducted posture, (6) a Middle-Extended posture (Figure 2(d)) where the middle finger was extended while the other finger were flexed while adducted, (7) an Index-Abducted posture (Figure 2(e)) where the index finger was abducted away from the middle, ring, and little fingers which were touching, (8) a Vulcan posture (Figure 2(f)) where the index and middle fingers were touching but separated from the ring and little fingertips which were also touching and all extended, and (9) an All-Abducted posture (Figure 2(g)) where all of the fingers were extended and abducted from each other.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Fusion between Tactile and Proprioceptive Inputs on Tactile Perception

2011

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Tactile perception is typically considered the result of cortical interpretation of afferent signals from a network of mechanical sensors underneath the skin. Yet, tactile illusion studies suggest that tactile perception can be elicited without afferent signals from mechanoceptors. Therefore, the extent that tactile perception arises from isomorphic mapping of tactile afferents onto the somatosensory cortex remains controversial. We tested whether isomorphic mapping of tactile afferent fibers onto the cortex leads directly to tactile perception by examining whether it is independent from proprioceptive input by evaluating the impact of different hand postures on the perception of a tactile illusion across fingertips. Using the Cutaneous Rabbit Effect, a well studied illusion evoking the perception that a stimulus occurs at a location where none has been delivered, we found that hand posture has a significant effect on the perception of the illusion across the fingertips. This finding emphasizes that tactile perception arises from integration of perceived mechanical and proprioceptive input and not purely from tactile interaction with the external environment.

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