Auricular Tensing for Indication of Intent on a Visual Selection Vector

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-178
Author(s):  
Forrest Fabian Jesse ◽  
Zhenjiang Miao ◽  
Li Zhao ◽  
Yao Chen ◽  
Weidong Li
Keyword(s):  
Visual Attention ◽  
Channel Capacity ◽  
Communication Channel ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Visual Selection ◽  
And Control

The usefulness of auricular muscle activation as a means of selection and activation of objects or locations is investigated. We find that in nearly half of those studied, use of this latent communication channel expands total expression channel capacity. A method is described that detects tension in auricular muscles, which is used to signify intent. This intent signal is then transmitted on the person's visual attention vector to select, activate, and control objects in an environment.

scholarly journals An Open Source-Based BCI Application for Virtual World Tour and Its Usability Evaluation

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanghum Woo ◽  
Jongmin Lee ◽  
Hyunji Kim ◽  
Sungwoo Chun ◽  
Daehyung Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
Virtual World ◽  
Communication Channel ◽  
Brain Computer Interface ◽  
Open Science ◽  
Computer Interface ◽  
The Public ◽  
Control Functions ◽  
Computer Interfaces ◽  
And Control

Brain–computer interfaces can provide a new communication channel and control functions to people with restricted movements. Recent studies have indicated the effectiveness of brain–computer interface (BCI) applications. Various types of applications have been introduced so far in this field, but the number of those available to the public is still insufficient. Thus, there is a need to expand the usability and accessibility of BCI applications. In this study, we introduce a BCI application for users to experience a virtual world tour. This software was built on three open-source environments and is publicly available through the GitHub repository. For a usability test, 10 healthy subjects participated in an electroencephalography (EEG) experiment and evaluated the system through a questionnaire. As a result, all the participants successfully played the BCI application with 96.6% accuracy with 20 blinks from two sessions and gave opinions on its usability (e.g., controllability, completeness, comfort, and enjoyment) through the questionnaire. We believe that this open-source BCI world tour system can be used in both research and entertainment settings and hopefully contribute to open science in the BCI field.

scholarly journals Scaling up visual attention and visual working memory to the real world

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy F. Brady ◽  
Viola S. Störmer ◽  
Anna Shafer-Skelton ◽  
Jamal Rodgers Williams ◽  
Angus F. Chapman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Visual Attention ◽  
Visual Working Memory ◽  
Real World ◽  
Scaling Up ◽  
The Real ◽  
Vision Science ◽  
Precise Understanding ◽  
Complex Settings ◽  
And Control

Both visual attention and visual working memory tend to be studied with very simple stimuli and low-level paradigms, designed to allow us to understand the representations and processes in detail, or with fully realistic stimuli that make such precise understanding difficult but are more representative of the real world. In this chapter we argue for an intermediate approach in which visual attention and visual working memory are studied by scaling up from the simplest settings to more complex settings that capture some aspects of the complexity of the real-world, while still remaining in the realm of well-controlled stimuli and well-understood tasks. We believe this approach, which we have been taking in our labs, will allow a more generalizable set of knowledge about visual attention and visual working memory while maintaining the rigor and control that is typical of vision science and psychophysics studies.

Capacity of a Single Spiking Neuron Channel

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 1714-1748 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shiro Ikeda ◽  
Jonathan H. Manton
Keyword(s):  
Information Processing ◽  
Channel Capacity ◽  
Information Transfer ◽  
Communication Channel ◽  
Discrete Distribution ◽  
Random Variable ◽  
Temporal Coding ◽  
Reasonable Assumption ◽  
Rate Coding ◽  
The Brain

Information transfer through a single neuron is a fundamental component of information processing in the brain, and computing the information channel capacity is important to understand this information processing. The problem is difficult since the capacity depends on coding, characteristics of the communication channel, and optimization over input distributions, among other issues. In this letter, we consider two models. The temporal coding model of a neuron as a communication channel assumes the output is τ where τ is a gamma-distributed random variable corresponding to the interspike interval, that is, the time it takes for the neuron to fire once. The rate coding model is similar; the output is the actual rate of firing over a fixed period of time. Theoretical studies prove that the distribution of inputs, which achieves channel capacity, is a discrete distribution with finite mass points for temporal and rate coding under a reasonable assumption. This allows us to compute numerically the capacity of a neuron. Numerical results are in a plausible range based on biological evidence to date.

Effect of endurance training on muscle activation and force sensation

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (12) ◽  
pp. 1765-1773 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Cafarelli ◽  
F. Liebesman ◽  
J. Kroon
Keyword(s):  
Endurance Training ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Vastus Lateralis ◽  
Endurance Performance ◽  
Motor Units ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Reduction In Force ◽  
Leg Cycling ◽  
Before And After ◽  
And Control

One of the consequences of endurance training is a reduction in force sensation in trained muscles at any exercise intensity. To study the central and peripheral contributions to this adaptation, we trained six male subjects with single-leg cycling at 60% [Formula: see text] peak (30 min/day × 3 days/week × 8 weeks); six others were matched controls. Measurements were made during separate 20-min, single-leg rides at 70% pre-training [Formula: see text] peak, with trained (TR), untrained (UT), and control (CT) legs, before and after training. No pre–post differences were observed in the control group. [Formula: see text] peak increased 18% (p < 0.05) in the TR leg and 6% (p < 0.05) in the UT leg of the trained subjects. Force sensation was significantly less in both the TR (70%; p < 0.05) and UT (50%; p < 0.05) legs during 20 min of single-leg cycling after training. Vastus lateralis EMG, plasma lactate, and heart rate were all significantly (p < 0.05) lower when cycling with either the TR or UT leg, which were both lower than when cycling with the CT leg, at the end of each 20-min ride. These data reflect an intramuscular environment that is better adapted to endurance performance by virtue of both central and peripheral mechanisms. Thus, there is less need to recruit additional motor units to maintain the same power output, and this reduced motor outflow leads to a decline in force sensation.Key words: kinesthesia, proprioception, electromyography, single-leg training, endurance training.

Development of a soft cable-driven hand exoskeleton for assisted rehabilitation training

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawen Xu ◽  
Qingcong Wu ◽  
Yanghui Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Motor Dysfunction ◽  
Force Transmission ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Rehabilitation Training ◽  
Local Structures ◽  
Hand Exoskeleton ◽  
And Control

Purpose Hand motor dysfunction has seriously reduced people’s quality of life. The purpose of this paper is to solve this problem; different soft exoskeleton robots have been developed because of their good application prospects in assistance. In this paper, a new soft hand exoskeleton is designed to help people conduct rehabilitation training. Design/methodology/approach The proposed soft exoskeleton is an under-actuated cable-driven mechanism, which optimizes the force transmission path and many local structures. Specifically, the path of force transmission is optimized and cables are wound around cam-shaped spools to prevent cables lose during fingers movement. Besides, a pre-tightening system is presented to adjust the preload force of the cable-tube. Moreover, a passive brake mechanism is proposed to prevent the cables from falling off the spools when the remote side is relaxed. Findings Finally, three control strategies are proposed to assist in rehabilitation training. Results show that the average correlation coefficient of trajectory tracking is 90.99% and this exoskeleton could provide steady clamping force up to 35 N, which could meet the demands of activities in daily living. Surface electromyography (sEMG)-based intention recognition method is presented to complete assistance and experiments are conducted to prove the effectiveness of the assisted grasping method by monitoring muscle activation, finger angle and interactive force. Research limitations/implications However, the system should be further optimized in terms of hardware and control to reduce delays. In addition, more clinical trials should be conducted to evaluate the effect of the proposed rehabilitation strategies. Social implications May improve the ability of hemiplegic patients to live independently. Originality/value A novel under-actuated soft hand exoskeleton structure is proposed, and an sEMG-based auxiliary grasping control strategy is presented to help hemiplegic patients conduct rehabilitation training.

Use of a new index to study relaxation in a vascular model of anaphylactic shock

1993 ◽  
Vol 74 (6) ◽  
pp. 2621-2626 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. Liu ◽  
H. Jiang ◽  
N. L. Stephens
Keyword(s):  
Saphenous Vein ◽  
Anaphylactic Shock ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Muscle Relaxation ◽  
Contractile Element ◽  
Time Index ◽  
Muscle Shortening ◽  
Cross Bridges ◽  
And Control ◽  
Relaxation Index

We have reported increased smooth muscle shortening ability in ragweed pollen-sensitized saphenous vein (SSV). This may account for the vascular hyperreactivity of anaphylactic shock. We have now investigated relaxation in SSV. Because isotonic relaxation is load and initial contractile element length dependent, we developed an adjusted half-relaxation time index, which was independent of these variables. Muscle activation state was monitored by measuring maximum unloaded velocity. The relaxation index showed no difference between SSV and control saphenous vein after 2.5, 10, and 15 s of electrical stimulation; however, after 1 s of stimulation it was prolonged significantly in SSV. We concluded that the cross bridges activating early in contraction demonstrated prolonged relaxation. Activation state during muscle relaxation spontaneously increased toward the end of relaxation, coincident with a slowing in isotonic re-elongation rate. This was seen only in muscles relaxing from 15 s of stimulation. Our results indicate that 1) the relaxation properties of early cycling (1 s) cross bridges are altered after sensitization; and 2) toward the end of isotonic relaxation, cross-bridge cycling rate increases spontaneously, a phenomenon not previously reported. We speculate that the rapid re-elongation in late relaxation may reactivate muscle.

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