University of Tsukuba, Japan
As part of my graduation thesis at the University of Tsukuba, I conducted a study titled "Sensory Substitution Feedback on a Sixth Finger: A Study on the Role of Aural Feedback on Ownership Perception of Supernumerary Appendages". This research aimed to investigate how sensory feedback influences the perception of ownership over a supernumerary appendage, a sixth finger. The project explored the interplay between agency, ownership, and body schema when users interacted with an externally attached appendage controlled by a servo motor and aural cues.
Through designing and testing a sixth finger prototype, I examined how volunteers responded to feedback mechanisms, such as musical notes associated with the appendage's orientation. The study evaluated their ability to adapt and incorporate the appendage into their body schema through various tasks, assessing changes in ownership perception and usability before and after training phases. While agency was enhanced through sensory feedback, ownership induction remained a challenge, offering insights into the complex dynamics of body integration and sensory substitution.
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