Three-dimensional, automated, real-time video system for tracking limb motion in brain-machine interface studies.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
Collection and analysis of limb kinematic data are essential components of the study of biological motion, including research into biomechanics, kinesiology, neurophysiology and brain-machine interfaces (BMIs). In particular, BMI research requires advanced, real-time systems capable of sampling limb kinematics with minimal contact to the subject's body. To answer this demand, we have developed an automated video tracking system for real-time tracking of multiple body parts in freely behaving primates. The system employs high-contrast markers painted on the animal's joints to continuously track the three-dimensional positions of their limbs during activity. Two-dimensional coordinates captured by each video camera are combined and converted to three-dimensional coordinates using a quadratic fitting algorithm. Real-time operation of the system is accomplished using direct memory access (DMA). The system tracks the markers at a rate of 52 frames per second (fps) in real-time and up to 100fps if video recordings are captured to be later analyzed off-line. The system has been tested in several BMI primate experiments, in which limb position was sampled simultaneously with chronic recordings of the extracellular activity of hundreds of cortical cells. During these recordings, multiple computational models were employed to extract a series of kinematic parameters from neuronal ensemble activity in real-time. The system operated reliably under these experimental conditions and was able to compensate for marker occlusions that occurred during natural movements. We propose that this system could also be extended to applications that include other classes of biological motion.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Peikon, ID; Fitzsimmons, NA; Lebedev, MA; Nicolelis, MAL
Published Date
- June 15, 2009
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 180 / 2
Start / End Page
- 224 - 233
PubMed ID
- 19464514
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1872-678X
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2009.03.010
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- Netherlands