Perceived Intensity and Discrimination Ability for Lingual Electrotactile Stimulation Depends on Location and Orientation of Electrodes.
Perceived Intensity and Discrimination Ability for Lingual Electrotactile Stimulation Depends on Location and Orientation of Electrodes.
复制标题
DOI：
10.3389/fnhum.2017.00186
复制
发表时间：
2017
影响因子：
2.9
通讯作者：
Stone-Roy LM
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Moritz J Jr;Turk P;Williams JD;Stone-Roy LM
感觉系统的故障会严重影响生活质量，而且修复并不总是可能的。一种被称为感觉替代的解决方案是使用另一种感觉系统将丢失的信息传递给大脑。这种方法通常涉及使用生物工程装置，电刺激体感觉纤维。有趣的是，舌头是一个理想的电触觉刺激的位置，由于其密集的神经支配，潮湿，和保护环境。通过舌头传递视觉和前庭信息的成功预示着未来应用的前景。然而，每个人的敏感度和辨别能力不同，舌头表面也不同，这使得产生可靠和一致的感觉变得更加复杂。本研究的目的是更精确地研究这些差异，以便更好地了解舌头的机械感觉神经支配，以便将来更有效地设计电触觉设备。具体来说，我们测试了刺激舌头的某些区域是否会导致更好的感知，刺激电极的间距是否会影响感知强度，以及电极的方向是否会影响感知强度和辨别。为了验证这些假设，我们建立了一个定制的舌头刺激装置，招募了25名参与者，并收集了感知强度和歧视数据。然后我们对这些数据进行了彻底的统计分析。与之前的研究一致，我们发现刺激舌头内侧前部区域比刺激外侧和后部区域更强烈。该区域对电极的识别能力也最好。将受刺激的舌头区域划分为16个不同的区域，使我们能够比较舌头前部和后部、内侧和外侧以及左右两侧的感知能力。舌头最前部和内侧的刺激产生最高的感知强度和最好的辨别能力。大多数个体能够更好地感知和辨别舌头一侧的电触觉刺激，并且刺激电极的方向影响感知。总之，本研究揭示了舌头体感神经支配的新信息，并将有助于设计未来的舌头电触觉刺激装置，为感觉系统受损的人提供感觉信息。
Malfunctioning sensory systems can severely impact quality of life and repair is not always possible. One solution, called sensory substitution, is to use another sensory system to bring lost information to the brain. This approach often involves the use of bioengineered devices that electrically stimulate somatosensory fibers. Interestingly, the tongue is an ideal location for electrotactile stimulation due to its dense innervation, moisture, and protected environment. Success with transmitting visual and vestibular information through the tongue indicates promise for future applications. However, sensitivity and discrimination ability varies between individuals and across the tongue surface complicating efforts to produce reliable and consistent sensations. The goals of the present study were to investigate these differences more precisely to better understand the mechanosensory innervation of the tongue so that future electrotactile devices can be designed more effectively. Specifically, we tested whether stimulation of certain regions of the tongue consistently result in better perception, whether the spacing of stimulating electrodes affects perceived intensity, and whether the orientation of electrodes affects perceived intensity and discrimination. To test these hypotheses, we built a custom tongue stimulation device, recruited 25 participants, and collected perceived intensity and discrimination data. We then subjected the data to thorough statistical analyses. Consistent with previous studies, we found that stimulation of the anterior medial tongue region was perceived as more intense than stimulation of lateral and posterior regions. This region also had the best discrimination ability for electrodes. Dividing the stimulated tongue area into 16 distinct regions allowed us to compare perception ability between anterior and posterior regions, medial and lateral regions, and the left and right sides of the tongue. Stimulation of the most anterior and medial tongue resulted in the highest perceived intensity and the best discrimination ability. Most individuals were able to perceive and discriminate electrotactile stimulation better on one side of the tongue, and orientation of stimulating electrodes affected perception. In conclusion, the present studies reveal new information about the somatosensory innervation of the tongue and will assist the design of future electrotactile tongue stimulation devices that will help provide sensory information to people with damaged sensory systems.