Sabina Manz , Thomas Schmalz , Michael Ernst , Thomas Maximilian Köhler , Jose Gonzalez-Vargas , Strahinja Dosen
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
Lower limb amputation does not affect only physical and psychological functioning but the use of a prosthetic device can also lead to increased cognitive demands. Measuring cognitive load objectively is challenging, and therefore, most studies use questionnaires that are easy to apply but can suffer from subjective bias. Motivated by this, the present study investigated whether a mobile eye tracker can be used to objectively measure cognitive load by monitoring gaze behavior during a set of motor tasks.
Methods
Five prosthetic users and eight able-bodied controls participated in this study. Eye tracking data and kinematics were recorded during a set of motor tasks (level ground walking, walking on uneven terrain, obstacle avoidance, stairs up and ramp down, as well as ramp up and stairs down) while the participants were asked to focus their gaze on a visual target for as long as possible. Target fixation times and increase in pupil diameters were determined and correlated to subjective ratings of cognitive load.
Findings
Overall, target fixation time and pupil diameter showed strong negative and positive correlations, respectively, to the subjective rating of cognitive load in the able-bodied controls (−0.75 and 0.80, respectively). However, the individual correlation strength, and in some cases, even the sign, was different across participants. A similar trend could be observed in prosthetic users.
Interpretation
The results of this study showed that a mobile eye tracker may be used to estimate cognitive load in prosthesis users during locomotor tasks. This paves the way to establish a new approach to assessing cognitive load, which is objective and yet practical and simple to administer. Nevertheless, future studies should corroborate these results by comparing them to other objective measures as well as focus on translating the proposed approach outside of a laboratory.
期刊介绍：
Clinical Biomechanics is an international multidisciplinary journal of biomechanics with a focus on medical and clinical applications of new knowledge in the field.
The science of biomechanics helps explain the causes of cell, tissue, organ and body system disorders, and supports clinicians in the diagnosis, prognosis and evaluation of treatment methods and technologies. Clinical Biomechanics aims to strengthen the links between laboratory and clinic by publishing cutting-edge biomechanics research which helps to explain the causes of injury and disease, and which provides evidence contributing to improved clinical management.
A rigorous peer review system is employed and every attempt is made to process and publish top-quality papers promptly.
Clinical Biomechanics explores all facets of body system, organ, tissue and cell biomechanics, with an emphasis on medical and clinical applications of the basic science aspects. The role of basic science is therefore recognized in a medical or clinical context. The readership of the journal closely reflects its multi-disciplinary contents, being a balance of scientists, engineers and clinicians.
The contents are in the form of research papers, brief reports, review papers and correspondence, whilst special interest issues and supplements are published from time to time.
Disciplines covered include biomechanics and mechanobiology at all scales, bioengineering and use of tissue engineering and biomaterials for clinical applications, biophysics, as well as biomechanical aspects of medical robotics, ergonomics, physical and occupational therapeutics and rehabilitation.
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