Sensation Feedback and Muscle Response of Electrical Stimulation on the Upper Limb Skin: A Case Study

Prosthetic limbs with sensory feedback can make amputees feel the prosthetics as a part of their own body. Feedback systems relying on electro tactile cutaneous stimulation could create sensory patterns similar to those in a natural sensation. In this study, we are investigating the perceptual attributes of electrical stimulation in a region of upper limb skin that might serve as a candidate site for electro tactile stimulation. Preliminary results indicated that electrical stimulation on the upper limb skin for tactile feedback is a promising means to provide a replacement of sensory information to the individual wearing a prosthetic limb, which is of great importance for improving task performance. Stimulation patterns should also be considered not only to produce appropriate sensation but also to evoke effective motor function.