iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Applications Open! We are looking for a motivated summer intern to support a podcast in development in collaboration with the Plasticity Lab, exploring what restorative, assistive, and augmentative neurotechnology reveals about hidden human capacity 🦾 Full details here: forms.office.com/e/PDjanEYkSE

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

Finally, despite broad skill transfer, when Third Thumb use was optional in a set of naturalistic tasks, participants preferred their hand over the device. This suggests that real-world adoption of these technologies will depend on more than skill transfer, cognitive effort, or embodiment.

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

However, we observed that the toe-based control mechanism led to a small reduction in balance, suggesting modest behavioural trade-offs associated with device use.

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

We also found that training improved participants’ sense of agency over the Third Thumb. The greater their motor gains after training, the stronger their sense of agency over the device❗

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

If Third Thumb skill isn’t tied to low-level body mappings, it may draw on cognitive mechanisms and be sensitive to increased cognitive load. Third Thumb performance dropped slightly while simultaneously doing a math task — but training reduced the cognitive effort required to use the device❗

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

Next, we tested two new Third Thumb–body mappings: 1) the Third Thumb was controlled by the heels instead of the toes; 2) it was worn on the left hand instead of the right. Motor skill still transferred, suggesting learning isn’t tied to specific sensorimotor body mappings‼️

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

We then tested participants on an untrained task involving new control demands. Participants still improved, showing that Third Thumb skill transferred to new task demands❗

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

First, we trained participants intensively with the Third Thumb for 7 days across a range of motor tasks. Despite most training happening at home with minimal supervision, participants improved in every task.

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

We tested whether motor skill with an extra robotic thumb (the Third Thumb), worn on the right hand and controlled by the toes, transfers beyond the tasks and conditions participants trained on.

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

Wearable robotic limbs for body augmentation could transform how we interact with the world — but their everyday use will depend on whether learned motor skills transfer beyond training contexts.

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

Can we use robotic augmentation limbs as flexibly as our natural limbs⁉️ 🧨 Our new study, just out in @currentbiology.bsky.social, tested this using the Third Thumb @daniclode.bsky.social: a wearable robotic extra thumb you control with your toes! www.cell.com/current-biol... ‼️‼️

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

Markerless tracking shouldn’t feel like a coding project! We released TrackStudio (arxiv.org/abs/2511.07624), a fully graphical, open-source toolkit for markerless human motion tracking. It enables use of current 2D/3D tools and video synchronisation without coding.

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

And how do users perceive the Thumb? Participants reported a strong sense of agency (control over the Thumb) but no body ownership (it didn’t feel like part of the body). All categories of embodiment were rated similarly for both EMG and FS. 10/12

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

To provide a mechanistic insight into this generalisation, we cross-correlated the toe-movement signal and muscle signal, and observed a high correlation during EMG control, suggesting participants are expressing force-related toe movements while using the EMG control, contributing to learning! 8/12

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

But we also saw that the control method participants started with impacted learning transfer to their second control method. Beginning with EMG control led to superior transfer when switching to force control – suggesting muscle control is a better tutor for generalisable learning. 7/12

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

On the proportional control task completed before and after training, force control continued to demonstrate a clear advantage. However, participants showed similar learning gains across both control modalities. 6/12

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

Surprisingly, an additional cognitive load during the collaboration motor task did not affect performance for either control modality. Participants also performed similarly in the cognitive load arithmetic task, regardless of control. 5/12

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

Across all training tasks, both control methods enabled use of the Third Thumb, but force control consistently yielded better task performance. 4/12

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

EMG-based control is closer to the neural source; muscle activity precedes motion. Our initial hypothesis: EMG should enable more intuitive and efficient learning. We compared both control modalities across multiple motor tasks using a counterbalanced within-participants design. 3/12

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

The Third Thumb is designed to extend and enhance the motor abilities of an already fully functional hand. It was initially designed to be proportionally controlled by movement of the wearer’s toes via force sensors. But what if we tapped into muscle signals directly instead? 2/12

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

Can you control an extra robotic finger just by flexing your leg muscles? In our new study, we put EMG-based muscle control to the test, comparing it to traditional toe force sensor control for operating the Third Thumb (designed by @daniclode.bsky.social). 1/12

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

Exciting day at the fascinating UN #AIforGood summit! @daniclode.bsky.social presented on designing for augmentation and the Third Thumb, Tamar then presented our research looking at the neural embodiment of robotic limbs! Smashing it 🦾

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 04/07/2025

Our PhD students @maggieszymanska.bsky.social and Julien Russ ready to present their posters today at #BRNet2025! Find them in the poster room at 2pm, talking about phantom limb pain and using EMG to control the Third Thumb 🧠

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

Having a great time in Utrecht at #BRNet2025! Today, our very talented postdoc @celiafoster.bsky.social and amazing PhD student Ema Jugovic presented their posters. Really great work showcasing our new Third Thumb studies 🧠

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

Our lab had a fantastic time this week presenting our current work at @uksensorimotor25.bsky.social in Oxford 🧠

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

Check-out our latest research! 🧠 @lucydowdall.bsky.social's PhD work looking at the sensory representation of an artificial limb is now up on bioRxiv! doi.org/10.1101/2025.06.16.658246 🦾 see her thread below highlighting some of our key findings

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

Hristo’s presenting his poster today and tomorrow at #NCMPan25! Come and check out his work on information content in sensorimotor cortex in controls and people with amputations at 2-F-72 @ncmsociety.bsky.social

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Come check out Celia’s poster today and tomorrow at #NCMPan25 and learn about touch localisation abilities with the Third Thumb! 1-F-73 @ncmsociety.bsky.social @celiafoster.bsky.social

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

Applications are open for the Plasticity Lab summer internship at the University of Cambridge @mrccbu.bsky.social 🦾 Work with an interdisciplinary team on motor augmentation and wearable tech, exploring enhancement of movement capabilities 🧠 Apply by April 15th: plasticity-lab.com/internship

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

Our website contains even more information and curated resources to help support researchers in the aim of taking a more user-centered approach towards neurotechnology, in addition to details for how to get involved in this initiative www.inclusive-neurotech.co.uk

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

Neurotech is rapidly evolving, but user-centred technologies can only succeed if their development actively involves the end user. We’ve published a basic roadmap for supporting inclusive design testing - highlighting key strategies, stakeholders, representation, and measurable outcomes rb.gy/ng1jus

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

Read our review for some ideas! Ultimately, physiological compatibility (biomimicry) is too far from current technological reality. Also, it limits design and functionality to what is biologically familiar. Instead, we advocate for behavioural and cognitive compatibility.

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

Limited bandwidth gets worst during delivery of feature-specific and context-invariant artificial input to the user. Whereas the somatosensory system is dynamically attuned to context, like movement planning, stimulus repetition and learning, making it highly non-linear.

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

The somatosensory system relies on an orchestra of many inputs across modalities, some not reaching awareness. For an engineer, most of these inputs are not sufficiently informative to justify the hardware and processing time.

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

To begin with, the strive for biomimicry––attempting to mimic the peripheral input so that the CNS integrates the artificial input to the natural system––requires haptic feedback systems to capture relevant environmental data, via sensors and filters. But what is ‘relevant’?

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

Artificial haptic technologies have the potential to empower users with new ways to perceive and engage with their surroundings. Yet, they are also slow to reach their target users and cross the chasm from the lab to real life. Why is that? We have some thoughts...

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Now you’ve met the lab, come work with us! We’re hiring a Research Assistant to join the Plasticity lab 🦾 in early 2025 at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge. Find out more information here: www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/49393/. Closing date 8th of January! 🧠

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

But, behaviour still matters… People with more diverse adaptations across different body parts had more distinctive brain remapping, compared to 2-handed controls, linking what you do to how your brain is organised. These links are especially strong in kids.

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

Incredibly, the brain remapping was not just local! We saw global remapping across the primary somatosensory cortex (S1)—even regions as far away as the foot area were affected. This suggests deprivation can reshape the whole sensory map, not just the deprived hand area or the immediate neighbours.

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

When a hand is missing at birth, the brain adapts! In children and adults with a limb difference, other body parts "move into" the area of the brain originally meant for the hand. This includes the neighbouring face and arm, but also the feet! 🧠 #Neuroplasticity #BrainScience

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

Kids with congenital limb difference showed incredible versatility in how they use their bodies. While most people rely on hands, these kids creatively use feet, legs, or even their torsos! This "co-use complexity" was much higher in kids than in adults—highlighting a rich period of adaptation.

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

Born without a hand, children face early sensory deprivation—but their behaviour evolves massively as they adapt to daily challenges as they grow. Our kids model explores how these behavioural changes might shape brain remapping, offering a unique lens into different plasticity mechanisms

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

What happens to the brain's body map when a child is born without a hand? Does it just “rewire” based on missing inputs, or does behaviour shape these changes? We tackled this by studying kids (5-8 yrs) and adults with congenital limb differences using neuroimaging, modelling and behavioural methods

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

We’re thrilled to share our new research article, "Shaping the developing homunculus: the roles of deprivation and compensatory behaviour in sensory remapping on bioRxiv: rebrand.ly/qbz6nal with @dorothycowie.bsky.social

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

Hi I’m Dani, a designer with a background in prosthetics and human augmentation. I’m passionate about bridging design and neuroscience. This paper is my favourite rb.gy/eq0hnv as it shows how wearable hand augmentation devices can enhance human capabilities and aid in rehabilitation across all ages.

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

Hi 👋! I'm Julien, a Photonics Engineering PhD student tackling the challenge of making motor augmentation systems autonomous through various means like EMG and optical sensing systems. This paper: rb.gy/tmehw8 has been very helpful to me in my PhD researching control methods for the Third Thumb.

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

I’m Maria, a PhD student with a background in medicine, interested in motor and embodiment aspects of wearing robotic technology. My fav paper from the lab is rb.gy/9yug1o. It suggests there’s a distinct ‘prosthesis category’ in the visual cortex of prosthesis users, separate from hands/tools 🦾.

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

Hello! I'm Olivier, a visiting PhD student in mechanical engineering at Polytechnique Montréal studying artificial somatosensory feedback. I decided to highlight this article rb.gy/hegwrk because it shaped my approach to biofeedback integration and certainly played a major role in my presence here!

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

Hi! I’m Celia @celiafoster.bsky.social, a postdoc investigating how our brain can create a multisensory body representation for a robotic limb. This lab paper - rb.gy/vcd2rq – shows that body part coding in S1 is more distributed than previously thought – a fundamental new insight into neural coding

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Plasticity Lab @plasticity-lab.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

Hi! I’m Hristo and I’m a postdoc in the lab researching motor control, motor learning, and phantom limb pain. The paper I’ve picked reassesses cortical reorganization and is the one that introduced me to the lab and made me want to work with the group back during my PhD: rb.gy/ggkzj1

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