Motor-Cognitive Effects of Virtual Reality Myoelectric Control Training

Learning the advanced functionalities of modern myoelectric prostheses can be challenging and highly cognitive demanding for naive users. While virtual reality (VR) has recently emerged as a promising tool for neurorehabilitation, it is important to consider also the cognitive load aspect of the training process, for a more realistic assessment of users’ capabilities. This study aims to investigate the correlation between functional performance and cognitive demand when learning a myoelectric control method in an immersive virtual reality environment for training and assessment. The developed virtual training environment simulated activities of daily living, while the assessments included standard tests, as well as a motor-cognitive dual-task methodology that combined both aspects. The study was conducted with 10 able-bodied participants, who controlled a virtual multi-grip prosthesis using a conventional myoelectric control strategy that requires muscle co-activation to switch between power and precision grasp. Performance in terms of functionalities, cognitive load, and user perception was assessed before and after training. Results show that VR training led to an immediate improvement in functionalities, enabling fast object manipulation, and highlighting the importance of including cognitive evaluation in the training progress.