TY - JOUR

T1 - Training proprioception with sound: effects of real-timeauditory feedback on intermodal learning

AU - Ghai, Shashank

AU - Schmitz, Gerd

AU - Hwang, Tong-Hun

AU - Effenberg, Alfred. O.

N1 - Funding Information: S.G. would like to thank a student assistant Mr. Pascal Moszczynski for his assistance during the experimental procedure. Parts of this work were supported by the European Commission grant H2020-FETPROACT-2014 No. 641321.

PY - 2019/2/25

Y1 - 2019/2/25

N2 - Our study analyzed the effects of real-time auditory feedback on intermodal learning during a bilateral knee repositioning task. Thirty healthy participants were randomly allocated to control and experimental groups. Participants performed an active knee joint repositioning task for the four target angles (20°, 40°, 60°, and 80°) bilaterally, with or without additional real-time auditory feedback. Here, the frequency of auditory feedback was mapped to the knee's angle range (0–90°). Retention measurements were performed on the same four angles, without auditory feedback, after 15 min and 24 hours. A generalized knee proprioception test was performed after the 24-h retention measurement on three untrained knee angles (15°, 35°, and 55°). Statistical analysis revealed a significant enhancement of knee proprioception, shown as a lower knee repositioning error with auditory feedback. This enhancement of proprioception also persisted in tests performed between the 5th and 6th auditory–motor training blocks (without auditory feedback). Enhancement in proprioception also remained stable during retention measurements (after 15 min and 24 h). Similarly, enhancement in the generalized proprioception on untrained knee angles was evident in the experimental group. This study extends our previous findings and demonstrates the beneficial effects of real-time auditory feedback to facilitate intermodal learning by enhancing knee proprioception in a persisting and generalized manner.

AB - Our study analyzed the effects of real-time auditory feedback on intermodal learning during a bilateral knee repositioning task. Thirty healthy participants were randomly allocated to control and experimental groups. Participants performed an active knee joint repositioning task for the four target angles (20°, 40°, 60°, and 80°) bilaterally, with or without additional real-time auditory feedback. Here, the frequency of auditory feedback was mapped to the knee's angle range (0–90°). Retention measurements were performed on the same four angles, without auditory feedback, after 15 min and 24 hours. A generalized knee proprioception test was performed after the 24-h retention measurement on three untrained knee angles (15°, 35°, and 55°). Statistical analysis revealed a significant enhancement of knee proprioception, shown as a lower knee repositioning error with auditory feedback. This enhancement of proprioception also persisted in tests performed between the 5th and 6th auditory–motor training blocks (without auditory feedback). Enhancement in proprioception also remained stable during retention measurements (after 15 min and 24 h). Similarly, enhancement in the generalized proprioception on untrained knee angles was evident in the experimental group. This study extends our previous findings and demonstrates the beneficial effects of real-time auditory feedback to facilitate intermodal learning by enhancing knee proprioception in a persisting and generalized manner.

KW - coordination

KW - joint position sense

KW - motor learning

KW - perception

KW - rehabilitation

KW - sonification

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85053554933&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.15488/4951

DO - 10.15488/4951

M3 - Article

VL - 1438

SP - 50

EP - 61

JO - Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

JF - Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

SN - 0077-8923

IS - 1

ER -