RoMAT: Robot for Multisensory Analysis and Testing of visual-tactile perceptual functions

The present work aims to introduce a novel robotic platform suitable for investigating perception in multi-sensory motion tasks for individuals with and without sensory and motor disabilities. The system, called RoMAT, allows the study of how multisensory signals are integrated, taking into account the speed and direction of the stimuli. It is a robotic platform composed of a visual and tactile wheel mounted on two routable plates to be moved under the finger and the visual observation of the participants. We validated the system by implementing a rotation discrimination task considering two different sensory modalities: vision, touch and multisensory visual-tactile integration. Four healthy subjects were asked to report the length of motion rotation after perceiving a moving stimulus generated by the visual, tactile, or both stimuli. Results suggest that multisensory precision improves when multiple sensory stimulations are presented. The new system can therefore provide fundamental inputs in determining the perceptual principles of motion processing. Therefore, this device can be a potential system to design screening and rehabilitation protocols based on neuroscientific findings to be used in individuals with visual and motor impairments.Clinical relevance— This research presents a novel robotic motion simulator to deliver combined or independent stimulation of the visual and tactile sensory signals.