A new cybersuit developed by students from the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music is advancing how people learn and refine complex motor skills. The innovative wearable tech is aimed at helping musicians build muscle memory when mastering unfamiliar instruments and assisting seasoned players in rehabilitation after injuries. This development was highlighted in reports by TASS, referencing the Priority 2030 program from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.
The cybersuit integrates a wearable neural interface that supports skill acquisition through neural monitoring and a form of functional electrical stimulation. The project also features a virtual reality quest that simulates tactile sensations with accuracy reaching around 85%. In addition, a controlled study demonstrated successful motor skill transfer in a drumming task.
Looking ahead, the cybersuit is set to become a flagship project within the applied research and development lab at the Center for Development of Creative Competencies of the Russian Academy of Sciences. This hub brings together teams from universities, research institutions, and industry partners who work at the crossroads of different art forms and scientific disciplines to create innovative products.
Plans include a joint study with the Center for Bioelectric Interfaces at the National Research University of Economics and the Federal Center for Brain and Neurotechnology under the Federal Agency for Medicine and Biology. The collaboration will explore the impact of neurostimulation on music pedagogy. Additionally, there is a goal to digitally reproduce the motor skills of renowned academy teachers in 2024.
In related milestones, Russia previously unveiled an application designed to locate dogs by nose photo recognition, illustrating ongoing progress in applied neuroscience and perception technologies.