Localisation tasks with a three-dimensional audio-motor coupling based on an electromagnetic motion capture device

thomas hoellinger, malika auvray, Agnes Roby-Brami, Sylvain Hanneton
Poster
Last modified: 2008-05-13

Abstract


Understanding the adaptation processes through a new sensori-motor coupling with the environment is crucial for motor rehabilitation. In particular, through the learning of the new sensory consequences of body movements, adaptation allows an increase in the level of motor performance for particular tasks as well as an evolution of the characteristics of body movements. The aim of the study reported here was to investigate audio-motor adaptation thanks to localisation tasks. The participants had to localise and reach a virtual source thanks to its auditory rendering. An electromagnetic system (fastrack Polhemus) recorded the position and orientation of the participants’ head and hand. This system was connected to a 3D audio rendering system (OpenAl) that provided auditory feedback of participants’ position with respect to the virtual source target. The participants’ position was computed either from their hand or from their head (with the sensors located near the ears). The results of this study revealed that in both conditions participants were able to localise a source within the 3D auditory environment. Performance was overall better when the sensors were located on the hand than on the head. The results also allowed an investigation of the movements’ parameters correlated with the audio-motor learning.

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