Social Tasks in a Spatial Augmented Training for the Embodiment of Prosthetic Lower Limbs

Despite the proven advantages of prostheses, a significant number of amputees discontinue their usage for multiple reasons. Enhancing the prosthetic embodiment could be a strategy to improve the acceptance of such devices. Current literature suggests that virtual and augmented reality technologies offer promising solutions to enhance the embodiment of artificial limbs. This study delves into the potential of a Spatial Augmented Reality (SAR) system in fostering prosthesis integration and engaging individuals with transfemoral amputations. In this paper, participants use electromyography (EMG) to control a virtual leg. By contracting the quadriceps, they are tasked to break a virtual wall. Each collision generates vibrational feedback on the thigh. The study incorporates three conditions, featuring both social (cooperative and competitive) and non-social interaction. The underlying hypothesis posits that alternating between these conditions can concurrently stimulate embodiment through sustained engagement, particularly when social elements are introduced. Data collection encompasses EMG signals, heart rate variability, and skin conductance. Comprehensive examination, involving subjective questionnaires and assessments of proprioceptive drift, seeks to clarify the intricacies of embodiment and engagement throughout the tests. Results from tests alternating social and non-social conditions prove satisfactory, underscoring the approach's potential to enhance subject engagement and facilitate the prostheses' embodiment. This study thus provides insights for future investigations on prosthetic integration for amputees.