Visuomotor behaviours when using a myoelectric
prosthesis

Sobuh, MMD; Kenney, LPJ; Galpin, AJ; Sibylle, TB; McLaughlin, J; Kulkarni, J; Kyberd, P

Abstract

Background
A recent study showed that the gaze patterns of amputee users of myoelectric
prostheses differ markedly from those seen in anatomically intact subjects. Gaze
behaviour is a promising outcome measures for prosthesis designers, as it appears to
reflect the strategies adopted by amputees to compensate for the absence of
proprioceptive feedback and uncertainty/delays in the control system, factors believed
to be central to the difficulty in using prostheses. The primary aim of our study was to
characterise visuomotor behaviours over learning to use a trans-radial myoelectric
prosthesis. Secondly, as there are logistical advantages to using anatomically intact
subjects in prosthesis evaluation studies, we investigated similarities in visuomotor
behaviours between anatomically intact users of a trans-radial prosthesis simulator
and experienced trans-radial myoelectric prosthesis users.
Methods
In part 1 of the study, we investigated visuomotor behaviours during performance of a
functional task (reaching, grasping and manipulating a carton) in a group of seven
anatomically intact subjects over learning to use a trans-radial myoelectric prosthesis
simulator (Dataset 1). Secondly, we compared their patterns of visuomotor behaviour
with those of four experienced trans-radial myoelectric prosthesis users (Dataset 2).
We recorded task movement time, performance on the SHAP test of hand function
and gaze behaviour.
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Results
Dataset 1 showed that while reaching and grasping the object, anatomically intact
subjects using the prosthesis simulator devoted around 90% of their visual attention to
either the hand or the area of the object to be grasped. This pattern of behaviour did
not change with training, and similar patterns were seen in Dataset 2. Anatomically
intact subjects exhibited significant increases in task duration at their first attempts to
use the prosthesis simulator. At the end of training, the values had decreased and were
similar to those seen in Dataset 2.
Conclusions
The study provides the first functional description of the gaze behaviours seen during
use of a myoelectric prosthesis. Gaze behaviours were found to be relatively
insensitive to practice. In addition, encouraging similarities were seen between the
amputee group and the prosthesis simulator group.

Citation

prosthesis. Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, 11(72), https://doi.org/10.1186/1743-0003-11-72

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 7, 2014
• Publication Date: Apr 23, 2014
• Deposit Date: Apr 8, 2014
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 5, 2016
• Journal: Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation
• Print ISSN: 1743-0003
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 72
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1743-0003-11-72
• Keywords: Prosthesis, myoelectric, visuomotor behaviour, design evaluation, amputee, upperlimb.
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1743-0003-11-72
• Related Public URLs: http://jneuroengrehab.biomedcentral.com/