2012 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

A study of the role of haptic and visual sense in the motor learning using haptic information and three-dimensional virtual space

Research Project

Project/Area Number	23700608
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
Allocation Type	Multi-year Fund
Research Field	Rehabilitation science/Welfare engineering
Research Institution	Kagoshima University
Principal Investigator	NURUKI Atsuo 鹿児島大学, 大学院・理工学研究科, 助教 (50336319)
Project Period (FY)	2011 – 2012
Keywords	リハビリテーション医学 / TMS
Research Abstract	We studied whether a conflict between vision and haptics in the previous lift has an effect on the force planning of the next lift using virtual objects. We quantified the grip force (GF) rate peak as a behavioral read-out of force planning and used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to probe corticospinal excitability (CSE). We successfully developed the 3D VR haptic system which allow to study motor learning and function. Furthermore, we showed that GF rate peaks were significantly changed after trial of a visuo-haptic conflict and CSE followedthe same trend as the GF rate. Our results show that the motor system is capable to bias the sensorimotor memory by rapidly learning a new size-weight relationship.

(4 results)