Abstract
BackgroundThe haptic perception of ground compliance is used for stable regulation of dynamic posture and the control of locomotion in diverse natural environments. Although rarely investigated in relation to walking, vibrotactile sensory channels are known to be active in the discrimination of material properties of objects and surfaces through touch. This study investigated how the perception of ground surface compliance is altered by plantar vibration feedback.Methodology/Principal FindingsSubjects walked in shoes over a rigid floor plate that provided plantar vibration feedback, and responded indicating how compliant it felt, either in subjective magnitude or via pairwise comparisons. In one experiment, the compliance of the floor plate was also varied. Results showed that perceived compliance of the plate increased monotonically with vibration feedback intensity, and depended to a lesser extent on the temporal or frequency distribution of the feedback. When both plate stiffness (inverse compliance) and vibration amplitude were manipulated, the effect persisted, with both factors contributing to compliance perception. A significant influence of vibration was observed even for amplitudes close to psychophysical detection thresholds.Conclusions/SignificanceThese findings reveal that vibrotactile sensory channels are highly salient to the perception of surface compliance, and suggest that correlations between vibrotactile sensory information and motor activity may be of broader significance for the control of human locomotion than has been previously acknowledged.
Highlights
The goal of this study is to measure empirically the role played by vibrotactile sensory information in the perception of ground surfaces during walking
If any, vibration feedback to the plantar soles may have on the perception of ground surface compliance during walking
The remaining 13 subjects answered ‘‘Yes’’. These experiments demonstrate that the perceived haptic compliance of a walking surface is increased in the presence of plantar cutaneous vibration feedback
Summary
The goal of this study is to measure empirically the role played by vibrotactile sensory information in the perception of ground surfaces during walking. Human locomotor movements are adapted when stepping onto, off of, or moving over soft, irregular, or slippery surfaces in ways that minimize metabolic costs, reduce impact forces, or stabilize vertical center of mass [1,2,3,4,5,6,7] Compliant ground surfaces, such as sand or soggy grass, perturb locomotion by degrading proprioceptive cues that are acquired via ground contact and by mechanical perturbations due to the compression of material underfoot. This study investigated how the perception of ground surface compliance is altered by plantar vibration feedback
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
