Effect of Digital Anesthesia on Multi-Finger Synergies during a Sub-Maximal Constant Force Production Task

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of tactile feedback on multi-finger coordination, quantified by a synergy index using the uncontrolled manifold analysis. Twenty healthy, young volunteers were asked to press with all the four fingers on four, one dimensional sensors at 20% of their maximum voluntary force. A visual feedback of total force output was shown on a computer monitor. Tactile feedback was removed by administering ring block anesthesia. Results from this study suggest that the multi-finger synergies, the task errors as well as the flexibility of the motor system to produce the forces decrease significantly with the administration of anesthesia.