A compact setup for behavioural studies measuring limb acceleration

Behavioural studies contribute largely to a broader understanding of human brain mechanisms and the process of learning and memory. An established method to quantify motor learning is the analysis of thumb activity. In combination with brain stimulation, the effect of various treatments on neuronal plasticity and motor learning can be assessed. So far, the setups for thumb abduction measurments employed consist of bulky amplifiers and digital-to-analog devices to record the data. We developed a compact hardware setup to measure acceleration data which can be integrated into a wearable, including a sensor board and a microcontroller board which can be connected to a PC via USB. Additionally, we provide two software packages including graphical user interfaces, one to communicate with the hardware and one to evaluate and process the data. This work demonstrates the construction and application of our setup at the example of thumb acceleration measurement with a custom made glove and its use for research. Using integrated circuits, the size of the measurement devices is reduced to this wearable. It is simple to construct and can be operated easily by non-technical staff.