Objective: In this study, we aimed to develop a novel electromyography (EMG)-based neural machine interface (NMI), called the Neural Network-Musculoskeletal hybrid Model (N2M2), to decode continuous joint angles. Our approach combines the concepts of machine learning and musculoskeletal modeling. Methods: We compared our novel design with a musculoskeletal model (MM) and 2 continuous EMG decoders based on artificial neural networks (ANNs): multilayer perceptrons (MLPs) and nonlinear autoregressive neural networks with exogenous inputs (NARX networks). EMG and joint kinematics data were collected from 10 non-disabled and 1 transradial amputee subject. The offline performance tested across 3 different conditions (i.e., varied arm postures, shifted electrode locations, and noise-contaminated EMG signals) and online performance for a virtual postural matching task was quantified. Finally, we implemented the N2M2 to operate a prosthetic hand and tested functional task performance. Results: The N2M2 made more accurate predictions than the MLP in all postures and electrode locations (p < 0.003). For estimated MCP joint angles, the N2M2 was less sensitive to noisy EMG signals than the MM or NARX network with respect to error (p < 0.032) as well as the NARX network with respect to correlation (p = 0.007). Additionally, the N2M2 had better online task performance than the NARX network (p ≤ 0.030). Conclusion: Overall, we have found that combining the concepts of machine learning and musculoskeletal modeling has resulted in a more robust joint kinematics decoder than either concept individually. Significance: The outcome of this study may result in a novel, highly reliable controller for powered prosthetic hands.
CITATION STYLE
Berman, J., Hinson, R., Lee, I. C., & Huang, H. (2023). Harnessing Machine Learning and Physiological Knowledge for a Novel EMG-Based Neural-Machine Interface. IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 70(4), 1125–1136. https://doi.org/10.1109/TBME.2022.3210892
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