FeaturedKinarm NewsProduct Notices
How it Works
We study the brain through behaviour.
Dr. Scott reflects on his career and his evolving thoughts on motor cortex.
In 2026, the Society for the Neural Control of Movement awarded Steve the Distinguished Career Award.
How it Works
We make an activity where the visual environment is created by virtual reality and the physical environment is created by a robot. Each activity is designed to assess different brain functions.
By permission: Nature Review Neurosci (2004 Jul;5(7):532-46)
- Sensory and motor systems work together to permit us to move and interact in the environment and create our perception of the world
- A given function is supported by a highly distributed network in the brain
When you interact with a Kinarm robot, you are immersed in the virtual world. You see visual targets in the same plane of movement of the robot. Aligning the visual and mechanical environments in this manner takes advantage of the natural coupling that exists between the visual and proprioceptive systems.
The robot gives you haptic feedback so you can feel your actions in the world. The robot has really low friction so you can move very freely and fast.
A robot quantifies how we move and interact in this environment.
- Robots are really good at collecting lots of data. When you grip the end of a robotic arm and move it around, the robot (sensor, controller and actuator) can tell you exactly where your hand is and how hard you are pushing it.
- Movement is complex so we’ve simplified the problem by making a Kinarm robot that moves only in two dimensions; a single plane. The 2-D paradigm provides the optimal balance between behavioural complexity and measurement simplicity.
- You can visualize some of the data collected in this video
A robot manipulates how we move in the environment
- Neuroscientists love to study how humans/NHP are able to respond to altered visual or mechanical worlds.
- Robots can create very life-like haptic effects and perturbations.
- When you grip the end of a robotic arm and move it around, the robot (sensor, controller and actuator) can make you feel like your pulling a spring or your arm is being pushed by a force field.
Algorithms quantify performance in the activity
- A researcher can export all of the collected data and analyze it in their favourite data analysis package, such as MATLAB.
- If used, Kinarm Standard Tests provides a parametric analysis of the behaviour relative to typical performance.
From our Kinarm Academy series, co-founder Dr. Ian Brown describes some of the many experimental possibilities with the Kinarm.
Kinarm provides the experimentalist with incredible flexibility to study the brain.
Workflow for designing your experiment
Step One
Write a creative description of a task
Describe what will happen during the task, when they will happen, and if they are conditional. If they are conditional, identify what they are conditional upon. Convert the description into a flow chart. We provide this form to help you plan a new task.
Step Two
Determine which parameters of the task you are likely to want to change trial-to-trial or test-to-test
Your task can then be programmed so that values you want to change frequently can be specified via our software when your program runs.
Step Three
Implement your descriptive flow chart in Simulink™
Take advantage of Kinarm-specific Simulink blocks available in the TDK, blocks from MathWork’s extensive library, or your own unique custom code.
Step Four
Build (i.e. compile) your task program
Convert the source code into a file that can then be used by Dexterit-E. Make your Task Program available to Dexterit-E.
Step Five
Test and debug the code
Kinarm’s development environment allows you to create your own behavioural paradigm with flexibility and safety – and unparalleled control.
Want to learn more?
Enroll for our Kinarm Academy training or check out how other labs have used Kinarm in their research.
Kinarm in Action
Learn how Kinarm is helping the research community of today bring forth the innovations of tomorrow.
Kinarm News
Exploring Approaches to Therapies for Children with CP
Université Laval
Johns Hopkins University
University of Georgia
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
University of Vermont
Université Laval
“I was asked to work out a transition between two generations of products and therefore had many interactions with their support center. It is a pleasure to work with them as they answer quickly and appropriately, and want things to work well as much as you do. From what I’ve been able to see, their product works well, their standards are high, and their software are very user-friendly.
Alexandre Desgagné-Lebeuf, M. Ing.
Lab Manager, Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en réadaptation et intégration sociale (Cirris), CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale et Université Laval
Johns Hopkins University
Based on my years of experience, I can say they have one of the world best technical support teams. They provide critical and useful information to identify and troubleshoot problems. They are very kind and quick too. I always appreciate their support.
Kyunggeune Oh, PhD, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Johns Hopkins Univ. School of Medicine
University of Georgia
Incredibly helpful support! They provide very quick and detailed responses and are constantly improving their support docs.
Deborah Barany, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Kinesiology and AU/UGA Medical Partnership, University of Georgia
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
My Kinarm Lab has been a reliable research tool for more than 15 years, demonstrating its exceptional durability.
Jinsung Wang, PhD, Kinesiology Programs, Zilber College of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
University of Vermont
Kinarm is truly the best company I have ever worked with. The level of support, depth of resources, prompt and clear communication, and genuine kindness goes above and beyond anything I’ve experienced. You all make our work easier, more enjoyable, and ultimately allow us to do the best science possible.
Jasmine Mirdamadi, PhD, Assistant Professor,
University of Vermont, Dept. of Rehabilitation and Movement Sciences