Sensory neural prosthetics, motor control and active touch

描述（由申请人提供）：假肢的有效自愿神经控制可能需要感觉反馈，该反馈适当地整合到介导精细运动技能和辨别性触摸的感觉运动系统中。这项研究计划是基于这样的假设，即纳入感觉运动假体装置的人工传感器的合理设计取决于对中央躯体感觉回路功能的理解和利用，这些中枢躯体感觉回路为运动皮层提供相关的、适当处理的信息。在大鼠中，皮层处理的体感信息是至关重要的触须为基础的主动触摸过程中的胡须运动的控制。在这里，我们利用大型和不断增长的知识库的组织和功能的啮齿动物胡须系统。本研究计划的主要目标是在大鼠中开发用于研究神经感觉运动假体的模型系统。与外部传感器活动相关的颅内电刺激将用作替代感觉刺激，指导自愿胡须运动。通过电刺激躯体感觉丘脑将替代感觉反馈信号传递到中枢神经系统，对大鼠进行训练，以控制胡须运动。成功的结果将证明：1）中枢躯体感觉通路的电刺激是调节自主精细运动行为的有效信号; 2）此类刺激可作为接触介导的主动触摸的替代信号; 3）外部感觉假体可纳入自主感觉运动控制。未来的研究可以采用类似的方法来研究运动皮层活动及其在控制假肢胡须中的用途，类似于灵长类动物机器人手臂的神经控制。将此与本研究计划中开发的感觉方法相结合，将完成一个可以介导辨别性主动触摸的假体感觉运动回路。公共卫生相关性本研究计划是基于这样的假设，即纳入感觉运动假体装置的人工传感器的合理设计取决于对中枢躯体感觉回路功能的理解和利用，中枢躯体感觉回路向运动皮层提供相关的、适当处理的信息。该R21应用的主要目标是在大鼠中开发一种实验方法，用于评估在主动触摸期间使用人工感觉神经反馈进行精细运动控制。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Effective voluntary, neural control of prosthetic limbs may require sensory feedback that is suitably integrated into sensorimotor systems mediating fine motor skills and discriminative touch. This research plan is based on the assumption that the rational design of artificial sensors incorporated into sensorimotor prosthetic devices depends on an understanding - and exploitation - of the function of central somatosensory circuits that provide relevant, appropriately processed information to motor cortex. In rats, cortically processed somatosensory information is critically important for the control of whisker movements during vibrissal-based active touch. Here we take advantage of the large and growing knowledge base about the organization and function of the rodent whisker system. The principal goal of this research plan is to develop a model system in rats for investigating neural sensorimotor prostheses. Intracranial electrical stimulation keyed to external sensor activity will be used as surrogate sensory stimuli that direct voluntary whisker movements. Rats will be trained to control whisker movements on the basis of surrogate sensory feedback signals delivered into the central nervous system by electrical stimulation of the somatosensory thalamus. Successful outcomes would demonstrate that 1) electrical stimulation of central, somatosensory pathways is an effective signal for regulating voluntary, fine motor behavior, 2) such stimuli can serve as surrogate signals for contact-mediated active touch, and 3) an external, sensory prosthesis can be incorporated into voluntary, sensorimotor control. Future studies could employ similar approaches to investigate motor cortical activity and its use in controlling a prosthetic whisker, analogous to neural control of robotic arms in primates. Combining this with the sensory approaches developed in the present research plan would complete a prosthetic sensorimotor loop that can mediate discriminative active touch. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE This research plan is based on the assumption that the rational design of artificial sensors incorporated into sensorimotor prosthetic devices depends on an understanding - and exploitation - of the function of central somatosensory circuits that provide relevant, appropriately processed information to motor cortex. The principal goal of this R21 application is to develop an experimental approach in rats for evaluating the use of artificial sensori-neural feedback for fine motor control during active touch.