We use high-density surface electromyography (sEMG) to measure electrical activity from many locations across the forearm and upper arm. This allows us to examine detailed patterns of activity across groups of muscles.

Turning muscle signals into control

Participants will use their muscle activity to carry out a visuomotor task whereby they might control a cursor or play a game on a computer screen.

We will test how and how quickly people can learn to use different control strategies and how accurately and efficiently they can reach targets using their muscles.

Different ways of controlling an interface

We will compare two broad approaches.

Synergy-aligned control uses patterns of muscle activity that naturally tend to occur together.

Null-space control uses alternative combinations of muscle activity designed to produce little visible movement. One possibility is that these signals could allow someone to control an interface while continuing to use their hand naturally.

Patterns and rhythms in muscle activity

Muscle activity contains more information than simply how strongly a muscle contracts.

We will investigate patterns of activity across different frequencies and between different muscles to determine whether these provide useful information for identifying control signals or adjusting the interface in real time.