Visual Stimulator for Eye Movement Studies Based on a Microcomputer System

Summary

A visual stimulator system for studies of eye movements has been developed. The system is controlled by an inexpensive microcomputer. It is employed for otoneurological studies both in clinical work and in research, but can also be applied for studies of eye movements in other medical areas. Three types of eye movements are produced, viz. saccadic and smooth pursuit eye movements and optokinetic nystagmus. The stimulator system can be connected to another computer for an analysis of eye movements.

Ein visuelles Stimulatorsystem ist zur Analyse von Augenbewegungen entwickelt worden. Das System wird in der Neuro-Otologie - sowohl in der Klinik als auch in der Forschung -verwendet. Es wird von einem preiswerten Mikrocomputer kontrolliert. Drei Arten von Augenbewegungen können hervorgerufen werden: die Sakkade, die Folgebewegung und der optokinetische Nystagmus. Es ist möglich, das Stimulatorsystem mit dem analysierenden Computer zu koppeln.

Key-Words

Eye Movements - Visual Stimulator - Microcomputer

Schlüssel-Wörter

Augenbewegungen - visueller Stimulator - Mikrocomputer

• REFERENCES

• 1 Bahill A. T, Brockenbrough A, Troost B. T. Variability and development of a normative data base for saccadic eye movements. Invest. Ophthal 1981; 21: 116-125.
• 2 Baloh R. W, Sills A. W, Kumley W. E, Honrubia V. Quantitative measurement of saccade amplitude, duration, and velocity. Neurology 1975; 25: 1065-1070.
• 3 Baloh R. W, Langhofer L, Honrubia V, Yee R. D. On-line analysis of eye movements using a digital computer. Aviat., Space, Environ. Med 1980; 4: 563-567.
• 4 Fritsch K, Keck M. J. Grating generation by microcomputers. Vision Res 1978; 18: 1083-1085.
• 5 Gauthier G. M, Hofferer J.M, Martin B. A film projecting system as a diagnostic and training technique for eye movements of cerebral palsied children. Elec-troenceph. clin. Neurophysiol 1978; 45: 122-127.
• 6 Jäntti V, Aantaa E, Lang H, Virta-nen J. Microcomputer-controlled visual stimulator for studies of eye movements and visual evoked potentials. Med. Biol. Eng. Comput 1979; 17: 781-782.
• 7 Koivikko M. J, Häkkinen V. K, Ran-tanen K, Ignatius J. A computerized method for analysing eye movements. Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol 1981; 52: 15
• 8 Morgan M. J, Turnbull D. F. Smooth eye tracking and the perception of motion in the absence of real movement. Vision Res 1978; 18: 1053-1059.
• 9 Schalén L. Saccades, fast phases of nystagmus and tracking eye movements in man. An electro-oculographic study. Doctoral dissertation. Dept. of Otorhinolaryn-gology, Univ. of Lund, Sweden. 1981
• 10 Tanaka K, Toyama K. Computer-controlled visual stimulator for electrophysiological experiments. Vision Res 1978; 18: 743-745.
• 11 Thomas E. L. The eye movements of a pilot during aircraft landing. Aerospace Med 1963; 34: 424-426.
• 12 Thomas E. L, Landsdown E. L. Visual search patterns of radiologists in training. Radiology 1963; 81: 288-291.
• 13 Thomas E. L, O’Beirne H. Curvature in the saccadic movement. Arch. Ophthal 1967; 77: 105-109.