Direct Prosthesis Force Control with Tactile Feedback May Connect with the Internal Model.

Introduction: Dynamic modulation of grip occurs mainly within the major structures of the brain stem, in parallel with cortical control. This basic, but fundamental level of the brain, is robust to ill-formed feedback and to be useful, it may not require all the perceptual information of feedback we are consciously aware. This makes it viable candidate for using peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS), a form of tactile feedback that conveys intensity and location information of touch well but does not currently reproduce other qualities of natural touch.

Utilization of peripheral nerve feedback at a preconscious level.

Introduction: Sensorimotor integration is important, if not required, when using our hands. The integration of the tactile and motor systems is disrupted in individuals with upper limb amputations because their connection to their fingertips is lost. Direct cortical stimulation allows for modality and location matched perceptions; however, studies show that the time to process and act upon direct cortical feedback significantly exceeds the time to do the same with naturally produced tactile feedback.