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Neuroengineering
Human
Grade 6+

Neuroprosthetics: Exploring Human-to-Human Control

Ever wondered how it feels to control—or be controlled by—someone else? In this lab you’ll dive into the world of neural communication and motor control with our Human-Human Interface experiment.

Devices and Accessories

Related Experiments

About experiment

What Will You Learn?

How the brain sends electrical signals to muscles to control movement.
How to measure and influence neural communication using functional electrical stimulation.
The basics of neuroprosthetics and their applications in medicine and technology.

Background

Moving lets us explore the world—walking, dancing, or even controlling a robotic limb. Neurons in the motor cortex fire, signals travel down the spinal cord, and muscles contract. By linking two participants you’ll experience how those signals can “borrow” another person’s muscles, revealing the power of functional electrical stimulation and the promise of neuroprosthetics.

Experiment

Human-Human Interface Experiment

Materials:

Human-Human Interface (HHI) device
EMG electrode cable (orange)
FES electrode cable (black)
Patch electrodes (Controller × 3)
Square stimulation electrodes (Minion × 2)

Setup: Two volunteers choose roles: Controller (sends the signal) and Minion (receives stimulation).

Controller Setup

Place two EMG patch electrodes on the forearm flexor muscle and a ground patch on the back of the hand. Clip the red leads to the muscle patches and the black lead to ground. Plug the orange cable into the HHI and turn it on. Ask the Controller to flex; all LEDs should light with a strong squeeze. Use the black button to adjust gain if needed.

Minion Setup

Turn off the HHI. Place the two square stimulation electrodes across the ulnar nerve on the back of the forearm, just below the elbow (adjust as needed). Connect the black FES cable to the HHI’s Minion port. When ready, power the device back on.

Take Control!

Power the HHI with intensity low. The Controller flexes to light the red LED (threshold). The Minion keeps their forearm relaxed at 90 ° elbow flexion. Gradually turn the intensity knob until the Minion’s hand twitches—this is the threshold. If the Minion is comfortable, increase intensity to evoke a stronger motion. If stimulation is felt but movement is absent, adjust electrode placement.

Results & Analysis

Describe the sensations as Controller and as Minion. Measure reaction threshold (LED level vs. intensity dial) and note latency between flex and Minion movement. Discuss how functional electrical stimulation can bridge damaged neural pathways and how signal strength maps to muscle activation.