Sensors (Jan 2024)

Cognitive Vergence Recorded with a Webcam-Based Eye-Tracker during an Oddball Task in an Elderly Population

  • August Romeo,
  • Oleksii Leonovych,
  • Maria Solé Puig,
  • Hans Supèr

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/s24030888
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 24, no. 3
p. 888

Abstract

Read online

(1) Background: Our previous research provides evidence that vergence eye movements may significantly influence cognitive processing and could serve as a reliable measure of cognitive issues. The rise of consumer-grade eye tracking technology, which uses sophisticated imaging techniques in the visible light spectrum to determine gaze position, is noteworthy. In our study, we explored the feasibility of using webcam-based eye tracking to monitor the vergence eye movements of patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) during a visual oddball paradigm. (2) Methods: We simultaneously recorded eye positions using a remote infrared-based pupil eye tracker. (3) Results: Both tracking methods effectively captured vergence eye movements and demonstrated robust cognitive vergence responses, where participants exhibited larger vergence eye movement amplitudes in response to targets versus distractors. (4) Conclusions: In summary, the use of a consumer-grade webcam to record cognitive vergence shows potential. This method could lay the groundwork for future research aimed at creating an affordable screening tool for mental health care.

Keywords