Pianists learn to play with robotic third thumb in just one hour

Pianists equipped with a third robotic thumb were able to adapt to using the extra digit after just one hour of practice, Imperial research has found. Researchers from Imperial College London have been working to understand how well the human brain can cope with using extra limbs made possible through robotic technology. To assess the effects of such devices on the brain, the research team, led by Professor Aldo Faisal of Imperial's Department of Bioengineering, attached robotic extra thumbs to a group of piano players next to their little finger that could be controlled by the pianists using their feet. The inspiration for the study came from humanity's long-standing fascination with characters who have extra limbs, such as those found in Indian mythology and modern superhero comic books. Professor Faisal said: "We wanted to see whether we can enhance people using extra limbs; specifically, an extra thumb that sits opposite--contralaterally, technically speaking--the thumb of your right hand. "The basic question was: can we use 11 fingers in a task that requires actual skills?