Motor Learning in a Customized Body-Machine Interface

About this trial

This trial is recruiting individuals with cervical (neck area) spinal cord injuries to test a device that records and translates available body movements to allow control of other devices such as a computer or an electric wheelchair. The device (a body-machine interface; BMI) is personally mapped to the residual motor function of each trial participant. Wearable sensors are placed on the upper body to detect movements. Participants will be taught to use these movements to steer a joystick to navigate a virtual wheelchair. Such control could allow the upper body movements needed to drive a powered wheelchair. The study will compare two different ways of using the BMI device during 40 training sessions over 8 months.