Evaluation of sensation evoked by electrocutaneous stimulation on forearm in nondisabled subjects

Abstract

Abstract-Few studies are available in the literature on the sensations artificially created by dual-channel electrocutaneous stimulation. This study assessed the effect of a set of selected stimulation parameters on the sensations evoked by single-or dual-channel electrocutaneous stimulation. The investigated parameters included the stimulation site, the number of pulses, the number of stimulating channels (single-vs dual-channel), and the interleaved time between two channels. The modality, quality, location, and magnitude of the sensations were evaluated when the stimulations were applied on the forearm skin in 16 nondisabled subjects. Tactile perception was found to be induced more easily on the median and ulnar aspect than the dorsal and radial aspect of the forearm. Stimulation site significantly affected the magnitude of the sensation (p < 0.01). Dualchannel stimulation significantly increased the sensation magnitude (p < 0.05) only when the two electrodes were positioned closely. Moreover, a higher number of pulses evoked a movement perception more frequently and the interleaved time showed no significant effect on the magnitude of the sensation. The findings are expected to be useful for sensory substitution and augmentation applications. The results may also help improve users' acceptance of hand prostheses.

Cortical Alpha Oscillation During 3 kHz Steady-State Sinusoidal Electric Current Stimulation

“…Nevertheless, to assess whether the nociceptive system was actually involved, it would be needed to evaluate ERD/ERS patterns due to nociceptive stimulation (i.e., temperature) with further stimuli. Finally, another advantage of the stimulus used in the present study is that its frequency (3 kHz) is out of the EEG range (i.e., typically 0.1-100 Hz), as opposed to many studies using pulsatile stimuli which are usually in this range [9,12] and thus could have lead to deceiving results.…”

“…Electric pulse stimulus has also been extensively used with this purpose, [9] and although it has been reported that it seems to evoke tactile perception artificially in a given intensity [9], it is known that it provides recruitment of thick fibers firstly (Aβ) and thin fibers in a second moment (Aδ and C), especially with increasing stimulus intensities [10,11]. Selectively activating Aβ-fibers could be rather useful for disease evaluation -i.e., diagnosis and progression of conditions that involve sensorial and tactile loss, such as stroke, diabetes mellitus, phantom limb pain and leprosy [12][13][14][15][16].…”

“…This is usually assessed through subjective questionnaire answers, where participants have to decide on words from a given list, that describe best the sensations felt after stimulation. Thus, it is a forced-choice paradigm that highly depends on individual's cognitive state, and whether this type of stimuli elicits conscious tactile-related responses cortically was not yet assessed [9,13,14,16].…”

A System for Electrotactile Feedback Using Electronic Skin and Flexible Matrix Electrodes: Experimental Evaluation

“…The intensity and quality of the electrostimulation (isolated touch, vibration, tingling) [45], [46] can be adjusted by modulating the pulse amplitude, width, and rate of delivery (parameter coding) as well as the location of stimulation by changing the active electrode (spatial coding) [11], [12].…”

Intelligent Agent Based Software Architecture of a Wearable Electrotactile Feedback System for Balance Improvement

“…This is due to the sensitivity of a person [14], the placement of the electrodes [15] and the skin condition [16] leading to a higher or lower resistance for the current to pass through. By detecting the thresholds of the person before electrotactile feedback is applied it can be assured that the feedback is always in a comfortable range.…”