Haptic Error Modulation Outperforms Visual Error Ampliﬁcation When Learning a Modiﬁed Gait Pattern

Frontiers in Neuroscience, 2019 · DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00061 · Published: February 19, 2019

Simple Explanation

Robotic algorithms are being developed to help people relearn movements after neurological injuries. This study looks at different ways to use robots to guide or challenge people learning a new walking pattern. The study compares haptic error modulation (robot gently correcting small errors) and visual error amplification (exaggerating errors in a virtual reality environment) to see which helps people learn a modified gait pattern best. The findings suggest that haptic error modulation, which guides unsafe errors while amplifying task-relevant ones, is more effective than visual error amplification for learning a new gait.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

30 healthy young participants

Evidence Level

Original Research

Key Findings

1
Training with haptic error amplification enhanced transfer of the practiced asymmetric gait pattern to free walking, meaning participants were better able to walk normally with the new pattern.
2
Training with visual error amplification increased errors during training and hampered motor learning, suggesting it was less effective than haptic methods.
3
Adding haptic disturbance increased movement variability during training but did not significantly enhance motor adaptation, possibly due to decreased feelings of competence.

Research Summary

This study investigated the effect of training with novel error modulating strategies, which guarantee a safe training environment, on motivation and learning of a modiﬁed asymmetric gait pattern. We found that training with the novel haptic error ampliﬁcation strategy did not hamper motor adaptation and enhanced transfer of the practiced asymmetric gait pattern to free walking. The proposed novel haptic error modulating controller that ampliﬁes small task-relevant errors while limiting large errors outperformed visual error augmentation and might provide a promising framework to improve robotic gait training outcomes in neurological patients.

Practical Implications

Improved Gait Training

Haptic error modulation provides a better framework for robotic gait training compared to visual error amplification, potentially leading to more effective rehabilitation outcomes.

Safe Training Environment

The haptic error modulation strategy limits dangerous and frustrating large errors, while augmenting smaller task-relevant errors, contributing to a safer and more motivating training environment.

Enhanced Transfer

Haptic error amplification facilitates transfer of the practiced asymmetric gait pattern to free walking, enabling better integration of learned patterns into normal walking.

Study Limitations

1
The number of training blocks seemed to be insufficient to drive learning of some aspects of the motor task.
2
The effect of the haptic disturbance was augmented when applied on top of the error amplification strategies.
3
Visual error amplification augmented errors independently of their size, while haptic error amplification limited large errors.

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