Neural feedback strategies to improve grasping coordination in neuromusculoskeletal prostheses

We show that tactile feedback is necessary for dexterous grasping with a prosthetic hand, and that the effectiveness of this feedback can be influenced by how the tactile information is encoded in the feedback. Three participants with a neuromusculoskeletal prosthesis repeatedly lifted an object which measured their grasping force and could randomly change weight, and we found that tactile feedback becomes more relevant when the expected wieght was more uncertain. Differences in participant preferences and performance also suggest that the effectiveness of sensory feedback may be partially dependent on their prior experiences. These insights into tactile sensory feedback may lead to improved control over prosthetic arms and reduce the need to closely watch the prosthesis while grasping objects.