Enhancing two-dimensional control via single-channel haptic feedback using a multi-dimensional encoding strategy

Haptic feedback elicits sensations of touch to communicate information to the user. Recent developments in virtual reality and sensory prostheses have demonstrated the need for systems that can provide more information than the simple vibrotactor in your phone. A novel multidimensional encoding approach allows for percepts of signal intensity and flutter frequency in a single distal location using transcutaneous neural stimulation.

In this study we aimed to determine if these percepts are able to convey useful information to participants performing motor control tasks and if they perform better than a typical intensity-only modulation approach. Eleven participants performed three types of tasks to assess the efficacy of multidimensional stimulation. The first set included discrete matching tasks, where participants had to differentiate between thirteen combinations of flutter frequency and intensity.

In the other two sets, participants had to differentiate between simultaneous changes in the percepts. Participants in this study could correctly identify all discrete percept combinations and follow the changes in the percepts better than chance. Performance in the discrete task using a multidimensional approach showed increased information transfer compared to the individual modulation of intensity or flutter frequency.

These results suggest that multidimensional encoding is a promising approach for increasing information throughput in sensory feedback systems. Hence, such an approach might improve upon conventional methods of providing graded percepts, creating more informative tactile percepts for haptic feedback through peripheral nerve stimulation. This research was supported by a grant from the Department of Defense US Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, Joint Warfighter Medical Research Program (W81XWH1910839).

Additionally, T.B. received partial funding through an I³R Graduate Research Assistantship. Research supported by the Department of Defense US Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, Joint Warfighter Medical Research Program (JWMRP) grant number W81XWH1910839, PI: R Jung. Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA Tommaso R.

Benigni, Andres Pena, Sathyakumar S. Kuntaegowdanahalli, James J. Abbas & Ranu Jung Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA Tommaso R.