KINARM (Kinesiological Instrument for Normal and Altered Reaching Movement)

University of Salzburg

Salzburg | Website

Short Description

The device allows measurement and manipulation of hand movements with temporal precision in the millisecond range. The hands grasp handles, and the freedom of movement can be restricted or manipulated. The device measures the forces that subjects apply against these movement restrictions, allowing conclusions about automatic, cognitively induced movement corrections and adaptation. Via a mirror construction, screen contents are projected onto the movement plane of the hands for the test subject, so that naturally planned hand movements are possible. The device can be used from an age of about 5 years. Combination with other neuroscientific methods such as TMS and EEG is possible.

Contact Person

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Tobias Heed

Research Services

Running projects in the areas of sensorimotor adaptation, hand tracking, sensorimotor decisions, visual attention, etc.

Methods & Expertise for Research Infrastructure

Main scientific applications are in the following areas:
(1) Using of motor adjustments as a measure of cognitive processes
(2) Studying bidirectional influences between sensory and motor systems
(3) Exploring learning and avoidance behaviors in pain
Methodological expertise is available in all applications of the device: motion tracking, motion perturbation, motion restriction, motion manipulation (e.g., force fields, visual rotation)

Allocation to Core Facility

Cognitive Neuroscience