On-Line Analysis Of Optokinetic Nystagmus By Small General Purpose Digital Computer

Abstract

A program for a small general purpose digital computer was developed to analyse electro-oculograms of optokinetic nystagrnus in monkeys. It provides immediate print-out of means and standard deviations of maximum velocity of fast phases, velocity of slow phases, amplitude, total deviation during slow phases and number of nystagmic beats occurring in 15 sec trials. It has also the potential to measure other response features and the constants can be easily changed for application to individual circumstances. The validity of the system was verified by both simulation and sample analysis. The small size and relatively low cost of the equipment makes the system ideally suited for “on-line” close-loop experiments in the physiologic laboratory and for rapid quantification of data in the clinical setting which would allow evaluation of normal and abnormal eye movements under a variety of conditions within the same session.