Plasticity Lab
@plasticity-lab.bsky.social
We’re the Plasticity Lab at Cambridge University, led by Tamar Makin. We study the neural basis of hand function and dysfunction, exploring how technology can enhance movement functionality for able and disabled individuals of all ages: plasticity-lab.com
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.
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.
November 17, 2025 at 1:29 PM
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.
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.
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
10/12
July 17, 2025 at 10:57 AM
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
10/12
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
8/12
July 17, 2025 at 10:57 AM
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
8/12
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
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
July 17, 2025 at 10:57 AM
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
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
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
6/12
July 17, 2025 at 10:57 AM
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
6/12
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
5/12
July 17, 2025 at 10:57 AM
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
5/12
Across all training tasks, both control methods enabled use of the Third Thumb, but force control consistently yielded better task performance.
4/12
4/12
July 17, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Across all training tasks, both control methods enabled use of the Third Thumb, but force control consistently yielded better task performance.
4/12
4/12
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
We compared both control modalities across multiple motor tasks using a counterbalanced within-participants design.
3/12
July 17, 2025 at 10:57 AM
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
We compared both control modalities across multiple motor tasks using a counterbalanced within-participants design.
3/12
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
But what if we tapped into muscle signals directly instead?
2/12
July 17, 2025 at 10:57 AM
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
But what if we tapped into muscle signals directly instead?
2/12
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
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
July 17, 2025 at 10:57 AM
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
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
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 🦾
July 9, 2025 at 1:14 PM
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 🦾
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 🧠
July 4, 2025 at 10:55 AM
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 🧠
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 🧠
July 3, 2025 at 12:20 PM
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 🧠
Our lab had a fantastic time this week presenting our current work at @uksensorimotor25.bsky.social in Oxford 🧠
June 27, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Our lab had a fantastic time this week presenting our current work at @uksensorimotor25.bsky.social in Oxford 🧠
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
June 19, 2025 at 1:08 PM
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
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
May 1, 2025 at 5:20 PM
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
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
April 29, 2025 at 4:25 PM
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
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
April 1, 2025 at 12:43 PM
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
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
January 23, 2025 at 7:12 PM
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
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
January 23, 2025 at 7:09 PM
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
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.
December 19, 2024 at 9:21 PM
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.
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.
December 19, 2024 at 9:21 PM
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.
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.
December 19, 2024 at 9:21 PM
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.
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’?
December 19, 2024 at 9:21 PM
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’?
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...
December 19, 2024 at 9:21 PM
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...