Multisensory stimulation decreases phantom limb distortions and is optimally integrated
Gaia Risso,
Greta Preatoni,
Giacomo Valle,
Michele Marazzi,
Noëlle Moana Bracher,
Stanisa Raspopovic
Affiliations
Gaia Risso
Robotics, Brain and Cognitive Sciences (RBCS), Italian Institute of Technology, Genoa 16163, Italy; Institute of Health, School of Health Sciences, HES-SO Valais-Wallis, Sion 1950, Switzerland
Greta Preatoni
Laboratory for Neuroengineering, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zürich, Zürich 8092, Switzerland
Giacomo Valle
Laboratory for Neuroengineering, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zürich, Zürich 8092, Switzerland
Michele Marazzi
Laboratory for Neuroengineering, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zürich, Zürich 8092, Switzerland
Noëlle Moana Bracher
Laboratory for Neuroengineering, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zürich, Zürich 8092, Switzerland
Stanisa Raspopovic
Laboratory for Neuroengineering, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Systems, ETH Zürich, Zürich 8092, Switzerland; Corresponding author
Summary: The multisensory integration of signals from different senses is crucial to develop an unambiguous percept of the environment and our body. Losing a limb causes drastic changes in the body, sometimes causing pain and distorted phantom limb perception. Despite the debate over why these phenomena arise, some researchers suggested that they might be linked to an impairment of multisensory signals inflow and integration. Therefore, reestablishing optimally integrated sensory feedback could be crucial. The related benefits on sensory performance and body self-representation are still to be demonstrated, particularly in lower-limb amputees. We present a multisensory framework combining Virtual reality and electro-cutaneous stimulation that allows the optimal integration of visuo-tactile stimuli in lower-limb amputees even if nonspatially matching. We also showed that this multisensory stimulation allowed faster sensory processing, higher embodiment, and reductions in phantom limb distortions. Our findings support the development of multisensory rehabilitation approaches, restoring a correct body representation.
