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.
Our lab has been lucky to know and work with Kirsty Mason for many years - she’s an incredible woman whose strength and openness have taught us so much about recovery and resilience 💛 If you can, please check out her GoFundMe and show some support! gofund.me/0283e864d
Donate to From Trauma to Triumph: My 18-Year Life Day Journey, organized by Kirsty Mason
❤️ When Everything Changed
As I type this, on the 7th November 2… Kirsty Mason needs your support for From Trauma to Triumph: My 18-Year Life Day Journey
gofund.me
November 11, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Our lab has been lucky to know and work with Kirsty Mason for many years - she’s an incredible woman whose strength and openness have taught us so much about recovery and resilience 💛 If you can, please check out her GoFundMe and show some support! gofund.me/0283e864d
Reposted by Plasticity Lab
A brain-imaging study of people with amputated arms has upended a long-standing belief
go.nature.com/3Jp9NPG
go.nature.com/3Jp9NPG
The brain’s map of the body is surprisingly stable — even after a limb is lost
Study challenges the textbook idea that the brain region that processes body sensations reorganizes itself after limb amputation.
go.nature.com
August 21, 2025 at 10:07 AM
A brain-imaging study of people with amputated arms has upended a long-standing belief
go.nature.com/3Jp9NPG
go.nature.com/3Jp9NPG
Super pleased to see this heroic effort finally in print!! Many thanks to Hunter, our amazing study participants, and everyone else who made this fantastic study come true.
Now out in @natneuro.nature.com
What happens to the brain’s body map when a body-part is removed?
Scanning patients before and up to 5 yrs after arm amputation, we discovered the brain’s body map is strikingly preserved despite amputation
www.nature.com/articles/s41593-025-02037-7
🧵1/18
What happens to the brain’s body map when a body-part is removed?
Scanning patients before and up to 5 yrs after arm amputation, we discovered the brain’s body map is strikingly preserved despite amputation
www.nature.com/articles/s41593-025-02037-7
🧵1/18
August 21, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Super pleased to see this heroic effort finally in print!! Many thanks to Hunter, our amazing study participants, and everyone else who made this fantastic study come true.
Reposted by Plasticity Lab
Happy to announce that my lab @ Yale Psychology (actcompthink.org) will be accepting PhD applications this year (for start in Fall '26)!
Come for the fun experiments on human learning, memory, & skilled behavior, stay for the best 🍕 in the US.
Please reach out if you have any questions!
Come for the fun experiments on human learning, memory, & skilled behavior, stay for the best 🍕 in the US.
Please reach out if you have any questions!
Homepage of the Action, Computation, & Thinking (ACT) Lab, Yale department of psychology
actcompthink.org
July 24, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Happy to announce that my lab @ Yale Psychology (actcompthink.org) will be accepting PhD applications this year (for start in Fall '26)!
Come for the fun experiments on human learning, memory, & skilled behavior, stay for the best 🍕 in the US.
Please reach out if you have any questions!
Come for the fun experiments on human learning, memory, & skilled behavior, stay for the best 🍕 in the US.
Please reach out if you have any questions!
Awesome to see our own @daniclode.bsky.social featured as a highlight of the UN #AIforGood Summit!
Check out the summary of her talk—plus other key discussions on how AI can restore agency, enhance accessibility, and foster deeper human connection:
www.linkedin.com/posts/ai-for...
Check out the summary of her talk—plus other key discussions on how AI can restore agency, enhance accessibility, and foster deeper human connection:
www.linkedin.com/posts/ai-for...
LIVE from the #AIforGood Global Summit! | AI for Good
LIVE from the #AIforGood Global Summit!
What was just covered at Frontier Stage? AI for restoring agency, enhancing accessibility, and empowering deeper human connection. Here’s a summary of the sess...
www.linkedin.com
July 22, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Awesome to see our own @daniclode.bsky.social featured as a highlight of the UN #AIforGood Summit!
Check out the summary of her talk—plus other key discussions on how AI can restore agency, enhance accessibility, and foster deeper human connection:
www.linkedin.com/posts/ai-for...
Check out the summary of her talk—plus other key discussions on how AI can restore agency, enhance accessibility, and foster deeper human connection:
www.linkedin.com/posts/ai-for...
In summary:
– Force control offers better early motor performance
– EMG fosters learning generalization
– Raw EMG contains hidden potential
Read the full preprint at doi.org/10.1101/2025.06.16.658246. Thanks to all co-authors and participants!
12/12
– Force control offers better early motor performance
– EMG fosters learning generalization
– Raw EMG contains hidden potential
Read the full preprint at doi.org/10.1101/2025.06.16.658246. Thanks to all co-authors and participants!
12/12
doi.org
July 17, 2025 at 10:57 AM
In summary:
– Force control offers better early motor performance
– EMG fosters learning generalization
– Raw EMG contains hidden potential
Read the full preprint at doi.org/10.1101/2025.06.16.658246. Thanks to all co-authors and participants!
12/12
– Force control offers better early motor performance
– EMG fosters learning generalization
– Raw EMG contains hidden potential
Read the full preprint at doi.org/10.1101/2025.06.16.658246. Thanks to all co-authors and participants!
12/12
So, what does this tell us?
EMG control may be harder initially, but it offers a richer signal and better transfer of learning. With optimised hardware and software, it could be a powerful interface for future augmentation device control.
11/12
EMG control may be harder initially, but it offers a richer signal and better transfer of learning. With optimised hardware and software, it could be a powerful interface for future augmentation device control.
11/12
July 17, 2025 at 10:57 AM
So, what does this tell us?
EMG control may be harder initially, but it offers a richer signal and better transfer of learning. With optimised hardware and software, it could be a powerful interface for future augmentation device control.
11/12
EMG control may be harder initially, but it offers a richer signal and better transfer of learning. With optimised hardware and software, it could be a powerful interface for future augmentation device control.
11/12
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
Using predictive modelling, we found the force control signal could predict performance, whilst the processed EMG control signal could not predict EMG performance.
But importantly, the raw EMG signal could act as a predictor. This suggests pre-processing might discard important information.
9/12
But importantly, the raw EMG signal could act as a predictor. This suggests pre-processing might discard important information.
9/12
July 17, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Using predictive modelling, we found the force control signal could predict performance, whilst the processed EMG control signal could not predict EMG performance.
But importantly, the raw EMG signal could act as a predictor. This suggests pre-processing might discard important information.
9/12
But importantly, the raw EMG signal could act as a predictor. This suggests pre-processing might discard important information.
9/12
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
Reposted by Plasticity Lab
Great start to #IMRF2025 with Symposium 2 all about body representation and some amazing talks! Really enjoyed hearing about how sounds can affect it, e.g. with the auditory pinocchio illusion 🔊, something quite different than what I work on but so fun!
July 15, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Great start to #IMRF2025 with Symposium 2 all about body representation and some amazing talks! Really enjoyed hearing about how sounds can affect it, e.g. with the auditory pinocchio illusion 🔊, something quite different than what I work on but so fun!
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 🦾
Thrilled to share our most recent work led by our brilliant PhD student @mariamolinasan.bsky.social, exploring generalisation of motor learning with a robotic limb, featuring The Third Thumb 🦾
Can humans use artificial limbs for body augmentation as flexibly as their own hands?
🚨 Our new interdisciplinary study put this question to the test with the Third Thumb (@daniclode.bsky.social), a robotic extra digit you control with your toes!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🧵1/10
🚨 Our new interdisciplinary study put this question to the test with the Third Thumb (@daniclode.bsky.social), a robotic extra digit you control with your toes!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🧵1/10
July 7, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Thrilled to share our most recent work led by our brilliant PhD student @mariamolinasan.bsky.social, exploring generalisation of motor learning with a robotic limb, featuring The Third Thumb 🦾
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 🧠
Reposted by Plasticity Lab
Great talk by Matej Hoffman starting off Day 2 of #BRNet2025. Really exciting to see our BOLDkids research on congenital limb difference mentioned as well! Also - what an amazing venue 😊
July 3, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Great talk by Matej Hoffman starting off Day 2 of #BRNet2025. Really exciting to see our BOLDkids research on congenital limb difference mentioned as well! Also - what an amazing venue 😊
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 🧠