Two-Dimensional Cursor-to-Target Control From Single Muscle Site sEMG Signals

In this study, human subjects achieve two-dimensional cursor-to-target control using the surface electromyogram (sEMG) from a single muscle site. The X-coordinate and the Y-coordinate of the computer cursor were simultaneously controlled by the active manipulation of power within two frequency bands of the sEMG power-spectrum. Success of the method depends on the sEMG frequency bandwidths and their midpoints. We acquired the sEMG signals at a single facial muscle site of four able-bodied subjects and trained them, by visual feedback, to control the position of the cursor. After training, all four subjects were able to simultaneously control the X and Y positions of the cursor to accurately and consistently hit three widely-separated targets on a computer screen. This technology has potential application in a wide variety of human-machine interfaces to assistive technologies.