Aging and Sensory Substitution in a Virtual Navigation Task

Levy-Tzedek, Shelly; Maidenbaum, Shachar; Amedi, Amir; Lackner, James R.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0151593

Cited by 21 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Blindfolded participants were able to generate a representation of space using SSD vibration information and adopt a strategy that is similar to the one used during visual navigation, as has been shown in previous work [ 10 ]. The finding that movement times and velocity corrections were greater under SSD guidance than under vision is consistent with results from a recent study [ 27 ] which showed that the number of pauses and time taken to complete a trial when navigating through virtual mazes were greater when using an SSD than when using vision. Next, we discuss possible interpretations of how participants use sensory information from a substituted modality to navigate around an obstacle.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…Although SSDs can be highly useful as a navigation aid, collisions do sometimes occur. Levy-Tzedek et al [ 27 ] reported that the rate of collisions was higher using the Eyecane SSD than using vision to navigate in virtual mazes. Veraart et al [ 28 ] reported that binocularly blinded cats were able to use echoic SSD information to assess depth in a jumping task and to avoid obstacles when moving through a maze.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Echoic Sensory Substitution Information in a Single Obstacle Circumvention Task

et al. 2016

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Accurate motor control is required when walking around obstacles in order to avoid collisions. When vision is unavailable, sensory substitution can be used to improve locomotion through the environment. Tactile sensory substitution devices (SSDs) are electronic travel aids, some of which indicate the distance of an obstacle using the rate of vibration of a transducer on the skin. We investigated how accurately such an SSD guided navigation in an obstacle circumvention task. Using an SSD, 12 blindfolded participants navigated around a single flat 0.6 x 2 m obstacle. A 3-dimensional Vicon motion capture system was used to quantify various kinematic indices of human movement. Navigation performance under full vision was used as a baseline for comparison. The obstacle position was varied from trial to trial relative to the participant, being placed at two distances 25 cm to the left, right or directly ahead. Under SSD guidance, participants navigated without collision in 93% of trials. No collisions occurred under visual guidance. Buffer space (clearance between the obstacle and shoulder) was larger by a factor of 2.1 with SSD guidance than with visual guidance, movement times were longer by a factor of 9.4, and numbers of velocity corrections were larger by a factor of 5 (all p<0.05). Participants passed the obstacle on the side affording the most space in the majority of trials for both SSD and visual guidance conditions. The results are consistent with the idea that SSD information can be used to generate a protective envelope during locomotion in order to avoid collisions when navigating around obstacles, and to pass on the side of the obstacle affording the most space in the majority of trials.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Echoic Sensory Substitution Information in a Single Obstacle Circumvention Task

et al. 2016

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“…‘Virtual environments’, which have recently been successfully used for training with sensory substitution devices (Maidenbaum et al 2013, Maidenbaum et al 2014, Chebat et al 2015, Levy-Tzedek et al 2016, Maidenbaum et al 2016), offer an elegant way to solve many of these difficulties. Within the VR context it is easy to generate a varied stimulus set of objects or environments.…”

Section: Perceptual Learningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Learning to see again: biological constraints on cortical plasticity and the implications for sight restoration technologies

et al. 2017

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The “bionic eye” – so long a dream of the future – is finally becoming a reality with retinal prostheses available to patients in both the US and Europe. However, clinical experience with these implants has made it apparent that the vision provided by these devices differs substantially from normal sight. Consequently, the ability to learn to make use of this abnormal retinal input plays a critical role in whether or not some functional vision is successfully regained. The goal of the present review is to summarize the vast basic science literature on developmental and adult cortical plasticity with an emphasis on how this literature might relate to the field of prosthetic vision. We begin with describing the distortion and information loss likely to be experienced by visual prosthesis users. We then define cortical plasticity and perceptual learning, and describe what is known, and what is unknown, about visual plasticity across the hierarchy of brain regions involved in visual processing, and across different stages of life. We close by discussing what is known about brain plasticity in sight restoration patients and discuss biological mechanisms that might eventually be harnessed to improve visual learning in these patients.

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“…So even if brain training evidence is scarce in normal populations, the implications may not be as severe for situations involving dysfunctional senses. And there is indeed promising evidence regarding the use of virtual training environments such as virtual mazes or video-games in sensory substitution ( Lahav, Schloerb, & Srinivasan; 2012 ; Merabet et al, 2012 ; Levy-Tzedek et al, 2016 ; Maidenbaum et al, 2014c ; Maidenbaum & Amedi, 2015 ).…”

Section: Key General Considerations For Sensory Substitutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Designing sensory-substitution devices: Principles, pitfalls and potential1

Kristjánsson

Moldoveanu

Jóhannesson

et al. 2016

RNN

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An exciting possibility for compensating for loss of sensory function is to augment deficient senses by conveying missing information through an intact sense. Here we present an overview of techniques that have been developed for sensory substitution (SS) for the blind, through both touch and audition, with special emphasis on the importance of training for the use of such devices, while highlighting potential pitfalls in their design. One example of a pitfall is how conveying extra information about the environment risks sensory overload. Related to this, the limits of attentional capacity make it important to focus on key information and avoid redundancies. Also, differences in processing characteristics and bandwidth between sensory systems severely constrain the information that can be conveyed. Furthermore, perception is a continuous process and does not involve a snapshot of the environment. Design of sensory substitution devices therefore requires assessment of the nature of spatiotemporal continuity for the different senses. Basic psychophysical and neuroscientific research into representations of the environment and the most effective ways of conveying information should lead to better design of sensory substitution systems. Sensory substitution devices should emphasize usability, and should not interfere with other inter- or intramodal perceptual function. Devices should be task-focused since in many cases it may be impractical to convey too many aspects of the environment. Evidence for multisensory integration in the representation of the environment suggests that researchers should not limit themselves to a single modality in their design. Finally, we recommend active training on devices, especially since it allows for externalization, where proximal sensory stimulation is attributed to a distinct exterior object.

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Aging and Sensory Substitution in a Virtual Navigation Task

Cited by 21 publications

References 44 publications

Echoic Sensory Substitution Information in a Single Obstacle Circumvention Task

Echoic Sensory Substitution Information in a Single Obstacle Circumvention Task

Learning to see again: biological constraints on cortical plasticity and the implications for sight restoration technologies

Designing sensory-substitution devices: Principles, pitfalls and potential1

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