The Human Fusions Institute was well-represented at the Society for Neuroscience conference in Chicago. Luke Osborn, the newest full-time faculty member, presented at the “Somatosensory Restoration Through Neuroprosthetics” session, while Rachel Jakes and Margaux Randolph, Ph.D. students, gave poster presentations.
Osborn’s presentation, “Enabling rapid thermal perceptions using thin-film thermoelectric cooling technology,” focused on delivering temperature sensations to someone using a prosthetic arm or grabbing virtual objects while wearing an augmented reality headset. To prepare for his presentation, he collected data from experiments with human participants in his research, showing results from experiments where someone was using a prosthetic arm to feel and identify which objects were cold. He found that how well participants performed on the task depended on how quickly the temperature feedback was delivered to their missing hand. Faster thermal feedback gave participants stronger sensations, which also improved task performance.
Osborn also played a key role in a collaborative research effort with Breanne Christie, a respected researcher from Johns Hopkins University. Christie’s presentation, “Electrocorticographic responses in somatosensory cortex to fingertip haptic vibrations in an individual living with ALS,” explored how brain signals change depending on the delivered haptic feedback. Osborn and Christie worked with a brain implant study participant to record brain activity while haptic feedback was delivered to the participant’s hand. When haptic feedback was delivered at an unexpected time or location, there was a shift in the timing and size of the brain signals. At the end of both presentations, conference attendees were interested and wanted to learn more about Osborn’s research.
Jakes’s poster presentation, “The Strength-Duration Curve Can Efficiently Define a Multi-Dimensional Dynamic Intensity Range for Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Somatosensation,” was geared toward restoring and improving the sense of touch in people with upper limb loss. Jakes’s poster applied data collected with participants with implanted cuff electrodes and psychometrics to assess how intensity perception varies across the stimulation parameter space. Jakes is working with fellow Case Western Reserve University Ph.D. students Ben Alexander and Vlad Marcu to write a paper on this research, which they expect to be ready for preprint by the end of the calendar year.
Randolph studied emerging applications of peripheral nerve stimulation for her poster, “Acute Placement and Muscle Recruitment of a Novel Interfascicular Electrode for Peripheral Nerve Stimulation.” She appreciated the opportunity to speak to other researchers about her work on the preclinical data she collected on an interfascicular electrode designed to have high selectivity and less nerve damage.
The conference was also a valuable experience for those who did not give presentations. Ph.D. student Leah Roldan was fascinated by presentations about using a second robotic thumb and alternative ways to analyze location drawings, which gave her new ideas for her own analysis. She also enjoyed attending a seminar about publishing null results, which are often undervalued but still contribute significantly to the field, and meeting with recent CWRU alums.
Researchers from around the world came to Chicago for the conference. “I got to talk with many great people at SFN,” said Osborn. “Interesting research projects are going on worldwide, including a lot exploring how we can deliver useful sensory information back to individuals after an injury.” He was also pleased that many people he met were interested in HFI’s research.
