We are the Plasticity Lab, led by Prof Tamar Makin. We study the extent to which brain areas supporting perception and action are shaped by experience.
Cambridge, England
Joined December 2017
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We're making the move to bluesky! Follow us over there to keep in touch and receive updates on our research bsky.app/profile/plasticity-…. We'll no longer be using X
There's still time to apply to join Prof Tamar Makin's team at MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit in Cambridge! We are seeking a new Research Assistant. Ideal candidates have research experience & relevant degrees. jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/47969/
📷 We're hiring! Join Prof Tamar Makin's team at MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, as a Research Assistant. 1-year fixed-term role with renewal potential. Ideal candidates have research experience & relevant degrees. Apply here: jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/47969/#Ne… #Jobs
"I tried out a robotic third thumb — and felt like I had superpowers" Kaya Burgess, a science reporter for the Times came down to our lab to try out Dani's Thumb, check out his story!
Great to see so much positive interest in the Third Thumb! The Thumb, created by @DaniClode, is instrumental in our studies at the @plasticity_lab at @mrccbu @Cambridge_Uni. To learn more about our latest study: youtu.be/UI-t21QcXM4?si=5LIB…
This Third Thumb is *so cool*. I am unbelievably jealous of the folks who got to try it out! That story and more of the best in @ScienceMagazine and science in this edition of #ScienceAdviser: science.org/content/article/…
Video credit: Dani Clode Design and the Plasticity Lab
We're thrilled by the positive attention the Third Thumb is receiving! The Thumb, created by @DaniClode, is instrumental in our studies at the @plasticity_lab at @Cambridge_Uni. For more on our latest research please follow us!
Plasticity Lab retweeted
Researchers explored the usability of a 3D-printed device called the Third Thumb at the @royalsociety #SummerScience Exhibition and found it widely usable among young and old, left and right handed people.
Learn more in Science #Robotics: scim.ag/78Y
Plasticity Lab retweeted
Describing somebody as being “all thumbs” might usually denote clumsiness but researchers have found that gaining a robotic third one can make daily tasks easier for all of us thetimes.co.uk/article/resea…
Could you use a Third Thumb? Learn more about our new paper on inclusive design testing of the Third Thumb (designed by @DaniClode) on a diverse group of nearly 600 users aged 3-96 @Cambridge_Uni @mrccbu
youtube.com/watch?v=UI-t21Qc…
Plasticity Lab retweeted
👍🏽 How easily could you get to grips with a Third Thumb?
The @plasticity_lab @mrccbu team tested a new device by @daniclode at the @RoyalSociety Summer Science Exhibition, and found that the public took to it fairly easily.
Explore more 👉🏽 cam.ac.uk/stories/third-thum…
Overall, our findings successfully demonstrate the initial usability of the Third Thumb across a broad range of users. We hope this work highlights the plausibility of testing a diverse range of users during the development phases of new technologies
When we looked closer, we found some age costs within the older adults (age 34-96), whilst we found improvements with age in the younger children (age ≤ 11)
Whilst nearly everyone could perform the task, we found performance was generally poorer amongst younger children (≤11y/o), whilst younger adults (17-33 y/o) and older adults (34-96 y/o) performed comparably
Can anyone use the Third Thumb?
We tested a diverse range of nearly 600 users at the @royalsociety Summer Science Exhibition with the 'Third Thumb', a hand augmentation device
doi.org/10.1126/scirobotics.…
Participants were very successful! Nearly all of our participants could control the Thumb, and 98% were able to perform a task in the first-minute of usage, across our wide age range
We ensured participants could fit and control the Third Thumb, and then asked participants to perform either a 'Individuation' task with the Third Thumb, or a 'Collaboration' task with the Third Thumb and biological hand
The 'Third Thumb' is a 3D-printed hand augmentation device, designed by @DaniClode. We tested the inclusivity of the Third Thumb design on 596 members of the public (aged 3-96) during the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2022
