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Song A, Gabriel R, Mohiuddin O, Whitaker D, Wisely CE, Kim T. Automated Eye Tracking Enables Saccade Performance Evaluation of Patients with Concussion History. Optom Vis Sci 2023; 100:855-860. [PMID: 38033013 DOI: 10.1097/opx.0000000000002090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
SIGNIFICANCE Automated eye tracking could be used to evaluate saccade performance of patients with concussion history, providing quantitative insights about the degree of oculomotor impairment and potential vision rehabilitation strategies for this patient population. PURPOSE To evaluate the saccade performance of patients with concussion history based on automated eye-tracking test results. METHODS We conducted a retrospective study of patients with concussion history, primarily from sports participation, who underwent oculomotor testing based on an eye-tracking technology at the Duke Eye Center vision rehabilitation clinic between June 30, 2017, and January 10, 2022. Patients' saccade test results were reviewed, including saccade fixation and saccade speed/accuracy ratio. The outcomes were compared with age-matched normative population data derived from healthy individuals. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with saccade performance among patients with concussion history. RESULTS On hundred fifteen patients with concussion history were included in the study. Patients with concussion, on average, had fewer fixations on self-paced horizontal and vertical saccade tests and lower horizontal and vertical saccade speed/accuracy ratios compared with normative ranges. Among patients with concussion history, multiple linear regression analyses showed that older age was associated with fewer fixations on horizontal and vertical saccade tests, whereas male sex was associated with more fixations on horizontal and vertical saccade tests (all P < .01). In addition, older age was associated with lower horizontal saccade speed/accuracy ratio, after adjusting for sex, number of concussion(s), and time from most recent concussion to oculomotor testing ( P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Patients with concussion history had lower saccade performance based on eye tracking compared with healthy individuals. We additionally identified risk factors for lower saccade performance among patients with concussion history. These findings support the use of saccade test results as biomarkers for concussion and have implications for post-concussion rehabilitation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ailin Song
- Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Rami Gabriel
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Omar Mohiuddin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Diane Whitaker
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | | | - Terry Kim
- Department of Ophthalmology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
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Rao HM, McGuire SM, Halford E, Smalt CJ. Changes in Eye Tracking Features Across Periods of Overpressure Exposure. Mil Med 2023; 188:e3398-e3406. [PMID: 37192128 DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usad147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Repetitive exposure to blast overpressure waves can be a part of routine military and law enforcement training. However, our understanding of the effects of that repetitive exposure on human neurophysiology remains limited. To link an individual's cumulative exposure with their neurophysiological effects, overpressure dosimetry needs to be concurrently collected with relevant physiological signals. Eye tracking has shown promise for providing insight into neurophysiological change because of neural injury, but video-based technology limits usage to a laboratory or clinic. In the present work, we show capability for using electrooculography-based eye tracking to enable physiological assessment in the field during activities involved repetitive blast exposures. MATERIALS AND METHODS Overpressure dosimetry was accomplished by using a body-worn measurement system that captures continuous sound pressure levels as well as pressure waveforms of blast event in the range of 135-185 dB peak (0.1-36 kPa). Electrooculography eye tracking was performed using a commercial Shimmer Sensing system, which captured horizontal eye movements of both the left and right eyes, as well as vertical eye movements of the right eye, from which blinks can also be extracted. Data were collected during breaching activities that included repetitive use of explosives. Participants in the study were U.S. Army Special Operators and Federal Bureau of Investigations special agents. Approval for research was received by the Massachucetts Institute of Technology Committee on the Use of Humans as Experimental Subjects, the Air Force Human Research Protections Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations Institutional Review Board. RESULTS The energy from overpressure events was accumulated and summarized into an 8-hour equivalent of sound pressure level (i.e., LZeq8hr). The total exposure in a single day, i.e., the LZeq8hr, ranged from 110 to 160 dB. Oculomotor features, such as blink and saccade rate, as well as variance in blink waveforms, show changes across the period of overpressure exposure. However, the features that showed significant change across the population were not necessarily the ones that showed significant correlation with the levels of overpressure exposure. A regression model built to predict overpressure levels from oculomotor features alone showed a significant association (R = 0.51, P < .01). Investigation of the model indicates that changes in the saccade rate and blink waveforms are driving the relationship. CONCLUSIONS This study successfully demonstrated that eye tracking can be performed during training activities, such as explosive breaching, and that the modality may provide insight into neurophysiological change across periods of overpressure exposure. The results presented herein show that electrooculography-based eye tracking may be a useful method of assessing individualized physiological effects of overpressure exposure in the field. Future work is focused on time-dependent modeling to assess continuous changes in eye movements as this will enable building dose-response curves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hrishikesh M Rao
- Human Health & Performance Systems Group, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington, MA 02420 USA
| | - Sarah M McGuire
- Human Health & Performance Systems Group, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington, MA 02420 USA
| | | | - Christopher J Smalt
- Human Health & Performance Systems Group, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Lexington, MA 02420 USA
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Figaji A. An update on pediatric traumatic brain injury. Childs Nerv Syst 2023; 39:3071-3081. [PMID: 37801113 PMCID: PMC10643295 DOI: 10.1007/s00381-023-06173-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains the commonest neurological and neurosurgical cause of death and survivor disability among children and young adults. This review summarizes some of the important recent publications that have added to our understanding of the condition and advanced clinical practice. METHODS Targeted review of the literature on various aspects of paediatric TBI over the last 5 years. RESULTS Recent literature has provided new insights into the burden of paediatric TBI and patient outcome across geographical divides and the severity spectrum. Although CT scans remain a standard, rapid sequence MRI without sedation has been increasingly used in the frontline. Advanced MRI sequences are also being used to better understand pathology and to improve prognostication. Various initiatives in paediatric and adult TBI have contributed regionally and internationally to harmonising research efforts in mild and severe TBI. Emerging data on advanced brain monitoring from paediatric studies and extrapolated from adult studies continues to slowly advance our understanding of its role. There has been growing interest in non-invasive monitoring, although the clinical applications remain somewhat unclear. Contributions of the first large scale comparative effectiveness trial have advanced knowledge, especially for the use of hyperosmolar therapies and cerebrospinal fluid drainage in severe paediatric TBI. Finally, the growth of large and even global networks is a welcome development that addresses the limitations of small sample size and generalizability typical of single-centre studies. CONCLUSION Publications in recent years have contributed iteratively to progress in understanding paediatric TBI and how best to manage patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Figaji
- Division of Neurosurgery and Neurosciences Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
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Bell CA, Grossman SN, Balcer LJ, Galetta SL. Vision as a piece of the head trauma puzzle. Eye (Lond) 2023; 37:2385-2390. [PMID: 36801966 PMCID: PMC10397310 DOI: 10.1038/s41433-023-02437-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Approximately half of the brain's circuits are involved in vision and control of eye movements. Therefore, visual dysfunction is a common symptom of concussion, the mildest form of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Photosensitivity, vergence dysfunction, saccadic abnormalities, and distortions in visual perception have been reported as vision-related symptoms following concussion. Impaired visual function has also been reported in populations with a lifetime history of TBI. Consequently, vision-based tools have been developed to detect and diagnose concussion in the acute setting, and characterize visual and cognitive function in those with a lifetime history of TBI. Rapid automatized naming (RAN) tasks have provided widely accessible and quantitative measures of visual-cognitive function. Laboratory-based eye tracking approaches demonstrate promise in measuring visual function and validating results from RAN tasks in patients with concussion. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has detected neurodegeneration in patients with Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis and may provide critical insight into chronic conditions related to TBI, such as traumatic encephalopathy syndrome. Here, we review the literature and discuss the future directions of vision-based assessments of concussion and conditions related to TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carter A Bell
- Department of Neurology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Scott N Grossman
- Department of Neurology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Laura J Balcer
- Department of Neurology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Steven L Galetta
- Department of Neurology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Ophthalmology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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Sports-related concussion: assessing the comprehension, collaboration, and contribution of chiropractors. Chiropr Man Therap 2022; 30:60. [PMID: 36575458 PMCID: PMC9793635 DOI: 10.1186/s12998-022-00471-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last 2 decades, sports-related concussion (SRC) awareness and management have evolved from an emphasis on complete cognitive and physical rest to evidence-based protocols and interventions. Chiropractors are primary care providers with exposure to athletes and teams in collision sports and, in addition, manage patients with concussion-like symptoms including neck pain, dizziness, and headache. With SRC frequently occurring in the absence of a medical practitioner, the role of allied health practitioners like chiropractors should be emphasised when it comes to the recognition, assessment, and management of SRC. This commentary discusses the potential contribution of chiropractors in SRC and the specific role their expertise in the cervical spine may play in symptom evaluation and management. A PubMed and Google scholar review of the chiropractic SRC literature suggests that the chiropractic profession appears under-represented in concussion research in athletic populations compared to other medical and allied health fields. This includes an absence of chiropractic clinicians with a focus on SRC participating in the Concussion in Sport Group (CISG) and the International Consensus Conferences on Concussion. Furthermore, with evolving evidence suggesting the importance of cervicogenic manifestations in SRC, there is an opportunity for chiropractors to participate in SRC diagnosis and management more fully and contribute scientifically to an area of specialised knowledge and training. With a dearth of chiropractic orientated SRC science, clinical SRC expertise, and clinical chiropractic representation in the CISG; it is incumbent on chiropractic clinicians and scientists to take up this opportunity through meaningful contribution and involvement in the SRC field.
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Rapid Automatized Picture Naming in an Outpatient Concussion Center: Quantitative Eye Movements during the Mobile Universal Lexicon Evaluation System (MULES) Test. CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/ctn6030018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Number and picture rapid automatized naming (RAN) tests are useful sideline diagnostic tools. The main outcome measure of these RAN tests is the completion time, which is prolonged with a concussion, yet yields no information about eye movement behavior. We investigated eye movements during a digitized Mobile Universal Lexicon Evaluation System (MULES) test of rapid picture naming. A total of 23 participants with a history of concussion and 50 control participants performed MULES testing with simultaneous eye tracking. The test times were longer in participants with a concussion (32.4 s [95% CI 30.4, 35.8] vs. 26.9 s [95% CI 25.9, 28.0], t=6.1). The participants with a concussion made more saccades per picture than the controls (3.6 [95% CI 3.3, 4.1] vs. 2.7 [95% CI 2.5, 3.0]), and this increase was correlated with longer MULES times (r = 0.46, p = 0.026). The inter-saccadic intervals (ISI) did not differ between the groups, nor did they correlate with the test times. Following a concussion, eye movement behavior differs during number versus picture RAN performance. Prior studies have shown that ISI prolongation is the key finding for a number-based RAN test, whereas this study shows a primary finding of an increased saccade number per picture with a picture-based RAN test. Number-based and picture-based RAN tests may be complimentary in concussion detection, as they may detect different injury effects or compensatory strategies.
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Crampton A, Schneider KJ, Grilli L, Chevignard M, Katz-Leurer M, Beauchamp MH, Debert C, Gagnon IJ. Characterizing the evolution of oculomotor and vestibulo-ocular function over time in children and adolescents after a mild traumatic brain injury. Front Neurol 2022; 13:904593. [PMID: 35928133 PMCID: PMC9344998 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.904593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Impairments to oculomotor (OM) and vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) function following pediatric mTBI have been demonstrated but are poorly understood. Such impairments can be associated with more negative prognosis, affecting physical and mental wellbeing, emphasizing the need to more fully understand how these evolve. Objectives to determine i) the extent to which performance on clinical and computerized tests of OM and VOR function varies over time in children and adolescents at 21 days, 3-, and 6-months post-mTBI; ii) the proportion of children and adolescents with mTBI presenting with abnormal scores on these tests at each timepoint. Design Prospective longitudinal design. Setting Tertiary care pediatric hospital. Participants 36 participants with mTBI aged 6 to18. Procedures Participants were assessed on a battery of OM and VOR tests within 21 days, at 3- and 6-months post injury. Outcome measures Clinical measures: Vestibular/ocular motor screening tool (VOMS) (symptom provocation and performance); Computerized measures: reflexive saccade test (response latency), video head impulse test (VOR gain), and dynamic visual acuity test (LogMAR change). Analysis Generalized estimating equations (parameter estimates and odd ratios) estimated the effect of time. Proportions above and below normal cut-off values were determined. Results Our sample consisted of 52.8% females [mean age 13.98 (2.4) years, assessed on average 19.07 (8–33) days post-injury]. Older children performed better on visual motion sensitivity (OR 1.43, p = 0.03) and female participants worse on near point of convergence (OR 0.19, p = 0.03). Change over time (toward recovery) was demonstrated by VOMS overall symptom provocation (OR 9.90, p = 0.012), vertical smooth pursuit (OR 4.04, p = 0.03), voluntary saccade performance (OR 6.06, p = 0.005) and right VOR gain (0.068, p = 0.013). Version performance and VOR symptom provocation showed high abnormal proportions at initial assessment. Discussion Results indicate impairments to the VOR pathway may be present and driving symptom provocation. Vertical smooth pursuit and saccade findings underline the need to include these tasks in test batteries to comprehensively assess the integrity of OM and vestibular systems post-mTBI. Implications Findings demonstrate 1) added value in including symptom and performance-based measures in when OM and VOR assessments; 2) the relative stability of constructs measured beyond 3 months post mTBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrienne Crampton
- School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Adrienne Crampton
| | - Kathryn J. Schneider
- Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Lisa Grilli
- Montreal Children's Hospital-McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Mathilde Chevignard
- Laboratoire d'Imagerie Biomédicale, LIB, CNRS, INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- GRC 24 Handicap Moteur et Cognitif et Réadaptation, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- Rehabilitation Department for Children With Acquired Neurological Injury and Outreach Team for Children and Adolescents With Acquired Brain Injury, Saint Maurice Hospitals, Saint Maurice, France
| | | | - Miriam H. Beauchamp
- Ste-Justine Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Chantel Debert
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Isabelle J. Gagnon
- School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Montreal Children's Hospital-McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
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McDonald MA, Holdsworth SJ, Danesh-Meyer HV. Eye Movements in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Ocular Biomarkers. J Eye Mov Res 2022; 15:10.16910/jemr.15.2.4. [PMID: 36439911 PMCID: PMC9682364 DOI: 10.16910/jemr.15.2.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI, or concussion), results from direct and indirect trauma to the head (i.e. a closed injury of transmitted forces), with or without loss of consciousness. The current method of diagnosis is largely based on symptom assessment and clinical history. There is an urgent need to identify an objective biomarker which can not only detect injury, but inform prognosis and recovery. Ocular motor impairment is argued to be ubiquitous across mTBI subtypes and may serve as a valuable clinical biomarker with the recent advent of more affordable and portable eye tracking technology. Many groups have positively correlated the degree of ocular motor impairment to symptom severity with a minority attempting to validate these findings with diffusion tract imaging and functional MRI. However, numerous methodological issues limit the interpretation of results, preventing any singular ocular biomarker from prevailing. This review will comprehensively describe the anatomical susceptibility, clinical measurement, and current eye tracking literature surrounding saccades, smooth pursuit, vestibulo-ocular reflex, vergence, pupillary light reflex, and accommodation in mTBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A McDonald
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Auckland, New Zealand
- Mātai Medical Research Institute, Gisborne, New Zealand
| | - Samantha J Holdsworth
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, University of Auckland, New Zealand
- Mātai Medical Research Institute, Gisborne, New Zealand
| | - Helen V Danesh-Meyer
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Auckland, New Zealand
- Eye Institute, Auckland, New Zealand
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Long-Term Effects of Low-Level Blast Exposure and High-Caliber Weapons Use in Military Special Operators. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12050679. [PMID: 35625065 PMCID: PMC9140026 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12050679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic low-level blast exposure has been linked with neurological alterations and traumatic brain injury (TBI) biomarkers. Impaired smooth-pursuit eye movements (SPEM) are often associated with TBI. The purpose of this study was to determine whether long-term operators of low-level blast exposure or high-caliber weapons use displayed oculomotor behaviors that differed from controls. Twenty-six members of an elite military unit performed a computerized oculomotor testing task using an eye tracker and completed a concussion assessment questionnaire. The participants were split into a blast exposure group and control group. The blast exposure group had a history of exposure to low-level blasts or high-caliber weapon use. The results revealed significant differences in SPEM, saccades, and fixations between the blast exposure group and control group. The blast exposure group’s eye movements were slower, stopped at more frequent points when following a target, traveled further from the target in terms of both speed and direction, and showed higher rates of variation and inefficiency. Poor oculomotor behavior correlated with a higher symptom severity on the concussion assessment questionnaire. Military special operators exposed to long-term low-level blasts or high-caliber weapons usage displayed an impaired oculomotor behavior in comparison to controls. These findings further our understanding of the impact of long-term low-level blast exposure on the oculomotor behavior of military special operators and may inform practical implications for military training.
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Patterson Gentile C, Aguirre GK, Arbogast KB, Master CL. Relationship between Visually Evoked Effects and Concussion in Youth. J Neurotrauma 2022; 39:841-849. [PMID: 35166126 PMCID: PMC9225424 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2021.0475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Increased sensitivity to light is common after concussion. Viewing a flickering light can also produce uncomfortable somatic sensations like nausea or headache. We examined effects evoked by viewing a patterned, flickering screen in a cohort of 81 uninjured youth athletes and 84 concussed youth. We used Multiple correspondence analysis and identified two primary dimensions of variation: the presence or absence of visually evoked effects and variation in the tendency to manifest effects that localized to the eyes (e.g., eye watering) versus more generalized neurological effects (e.g., headache). Based on these two primary dimensions, we grouped participants into three categories of evoked symptomatology: no effects, eye-predominant effects, and brain-predominant effects. A similar proportion of participants reported eye-predominant effects in the uninjured (33.3%) and concussed (32.1%) groups. By contrast, participants who experienced brain-predominant effects were almost entirely from the concussed group (1.2% of uninjured, 35.7% of concussed). The presence of brain-predominant effects was associated with a higher concussion symptom burden and reduced performance on visio-vestibular tasks. Our findings indicate that the experience of negative constitutional, somatic sensations in response to a dynamic visual stimulus is a salient marker of concussion and is indicative of more severe concussion symptomatology. We speculate that differences in visually evoked effects reflect varying levels of activation of the trigeminal nociceptive system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlyn Patterson Gentile
- Department of Pediatrics, and Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Center for Injury Research and Prevention, Children”s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Geoffrey K. Aguirre
- Department of Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Kristy B. Arbogast
- Department of Pediatrics, and Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Center for Injury Research and Prevention, Children”s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Christina L. Master
- Department of Pediatrics, and Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Center for Injury Research and Prevention, Children”s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Wilde EA, Wanner I, Kenney K, Gill J, Stone JR, Disner S, Schnakers C, Meyer R, Prager EM, Haas M, Jeromin A. A Framework to Advance Biomarker Development in the Diagnosis, Outcome Prediction, and Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury. J Neurotrauma 2022; 39:436-457. [PMID: 35057637 PMCID: PMC8978568 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2021.0099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth A. Wilde
- University of Utah, Neurology, 383 Colorow, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, 84108
- VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, 20122, 500 Foothill Dr., Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, 84148-0002
| | - Ina Wanner
- UCLA, Semel Institute, NRB 260J, 635 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, United States, 90095-7332, ,
| | - Kimbra Kenney
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Neurology, Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20814
| | - Jessica Gill
- National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Nursing Research, 1 cloister, Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
| | - James R. Stone
- University of Virginia, Radiology and Medical Imaging, Box 801339, 480 Ray C. Hunt Dr. Rm. 185, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, 22903, ,
| | - Seth Disner
- Minneapolis VA Health Care System, 20040, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
- University of Minnesota Medical School Twin Cities, 12269, 10Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
| | - Caroline Schnakers
- Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare, 6643, Pomona, California, United States
- Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, 21767, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Restina Meyer
- Cohen Veterans Bioscience, 476204, New York, New York, United States
| | - Eric M Prager
- Cohen Veterans Bioscience, 476204, External Affairs, 535 8th Ave, New York, New York, United States, 10018
| | - Magali Haas
- Cohen Veterans Bioscience, 476204, 535 8th Avenue, 12th Floor, New York City, New York, United States, 10018,
| | - Andreas Jeromin
- Cohen Veterans Bioscience, 476204, Translational Sciences, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
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12
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Cade A, Turnbull PR. Clinical testing of mild traumatic brain injury using computerised eye-tracking tests. Clin Exp Optom 2022; 105:680-686. [PMID: 35021960 DOI: 10.1080/08164622.2021.2018915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) refers to the alteration of typical brain function that occurs following a blow to the head. Even a mild case of traumatic brain injury (mTBI) can lead to long-term impairment, so accurate and timely detection is vital. Visual symptoms are common following mTBI, so while it may seem to fall outside their typical scope of practice, optometrists are ideally qualified to assess the visual impacts and help with the diagnosis of mTBI. Given that mTBI is challenging to objectively diagnose and has no universally accepted diagnostic criteria, clinicians can lack confidence in diagnosing mTBI, and be hesitant in becoming involved in the management of such patients. The development of easily quantifiable techniques using eye tracking as an objective diagnostic tool provides practitioners with an easier pathway into the field, assigning numerical values to parameters which are difficult to assess using conventional optometric tests. As this evolving technology becomes increasingly integrated into optometric clinical settings, the potential for it to identify deficits accurately and reliably in patients following mTBI, and to monitor both their recovery and the effectiveness of potential treatments will increase. This paper provides an overview of clinical tests, relevant to optometrists, that can uncover oculomotor, attentional, and exteroceptive deficits following a mTBI, so that an optometrist with an interest in eye tracking can play a role in the detection and monitoring of mTBI symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Cade
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Philip Rk Turnbull
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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13
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Mooney SWJ, Alam NM, Prusky GT. Tracking-Based Interactive Assessment of Saccades, Pursuits, Visual Field, and Contrast Sensitivity in Children With Brain Injury. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:737409. [PMID: 34776907 PMCID: PMC8586078 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.737409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Visual deficits in children that result from brain injury, including cerebral/cortical visual impairment (CVI), are difficult to assess through conventional methods due to their frequent co-occurrence with cognitive and communicative disabilities. Such impairments hence often go undiagnosed or are only determined through subjective evaluations of gaze-based reactions to different forms, colors, and movements, which limits any potential for remediation. Here, we describe a novel approach to grading visual health based on eye movements and evidence from gaze-based tracking behaviors. Our approach—the “Visual Ladder”—reduces reliance on the user’s ability to attend and communicate. The Visual Ladder produces metrics that quantify spontaneous saccades and pursuits, assess visual field responsiveness, and grade spatial visual function from tracking responses to moving stimuli. We used the Ladder to assess fourteen hospitalized children aged 3 to 18 years with a diverse range of visual impairments and causes of brain injury. Four children were excluded from analysis due to incompatibility with the eye tracker (e.g., due to severe strabismus). The remaining ten children—including five non-verbal children—were tested multiple times over periods ranging from 2 weeks to 9 months, and all produced interpretable outcomes on at least three of the five visual tasks. The results suggest that our assessment tasks are viable in non-communicative children, provided their eyes can be tracked, and hence are promising tools for use in a larger clinical study. We highlight and discuss informative outcomes exhibited by each child, including directional biases in eye movements, pathological nystagmus, visual field asymmetries, and contrast sensitivity deficits. Our findings indicate that these methodologies will enable the rapid, objective classification and grading of visual impairments in children with CVI, including non-verbal children who are currently precluded from most vision assessments. This would provide a much-needed differential diagnostic and prognostic tool for CVI and other impairments of the visual system, both ocular and cerebral.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott W J Mooney
- Burke Neurological Institute, White Plains, NY, United States.,Blythedale Children's Hospital, Valhalla, NY, United States
| | - Nazia M Alam
- Burke Neurological Institute, White Plains, NY, United States.,Blythedale Children's Hospital, Valhalla, NY, United States
| | - Glen T Prusky
- Burke Neurological Institute, White Plains, NY, United States.,Blythedale Children's Hospital, Valhalla, NY, United States.,Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
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14
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Bremova-Ertl T, Abel L, Walterfang M, Salsano E, Ardissone A, Malinová V, Kolníková M, Gascón Bayarri J, Reza Tavasoli A, Reza Ashrafi M, Amraoui Y, Mengel E, Kolb SA, Brecht A, Bardins S, Strupp M. A cross-sectional, prospective ocular motor study in 72 patients with Niemann-Pick disease type C. Eur J Neurol 2021; 28:3040-3050. [PMID: 34096670 PMCID: PMC8456972 DOI: 10.1111/ene.14955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Objective To characterize ocular motor function in patients with Niemann‐Pick disease type C (NPC). Methods In a multicontinental, cross‐sectional study we characterized ocular‐motor function in 72 patients from 12 countries by video‐oculography. Interlinking with disease severity, we also searched for ocular motor biomarkers. Our study protocol comprised reflexive and self‐paced saccades, smooth pursuit, and gaze‐holding in horizontal and vertical planes. Data were compared with those of 158 healthy controls (HC). Results Some 98.2% of patients generated vertical saccades below the 95% CI of the controls’ peak velocity. Only 46.9% of patients had smooth pursuit gain lower than that of 95% CI of HC. The involvement in both downward and upward directions was similar (51°/s (68.9, [32.7–69.3]) downward versus 78.8°/s (65.9, [60.8–96.8]) upward). Horizontal saccadic peak velocity and latency, vertical saccadic duration and amplitude, and horizontal position smooth pursuit correlated best to disease severity. Compensating strategies such as blinks to elicit saccades, and head and upper body movements to overcome the gaze palsy, were observed. Vertical reflexive saccades were more impaired and slower than self‐paced ones. Gaze‐holding was normal. Ocular‐motor performance depended on the age of onset and disease duration. Conclusions This is the largest cohort of NPC patients investigated for ocular‐motor function. Vertical supranuclear saccade palsy is the hallmark of NPC. Vertical upward and downward saccades are equally impaired. Horizontal saccadic peak velocity and latency, vertical saccadic duration and amplitude, and horizontal position smooth pursuit can be used as surrogate parameters for clinical trials. Compensating strategies can contribute to establishing a diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Bremova-Ertl
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bern (Inselspital) and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Center for Rare Diseases, University Hospital Bern (Inselspital) and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Larry Abel
- Optometry & Vision Science, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mark Walterfang
- Neuropsychiatry Unit, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Melbourne & NorthWestern Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ettore Salsano
- Unit of Rare Neurodegenerative and Neurometabolic Diseases, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico "Carlo Besta", Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Ardissone
- Unit of Rare Neurodegenerative and Neurometabolic Diseases, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico "Carlo Besta", Milan, Italy
| | - Věra Malinová
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescence Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine, General University Hospital Prague, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Miriam Kolníková
- Department of Child Neurology, Comenius University Children's Hospital, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Jordi Gascón Bayarri
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Ali Reza Tavasoli
- Pediatric Neurology Division, Children's Medical Center, Pediatric Center of Excellence, Myelin Disorders Clinic, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahmoud Reza Ashrafi
- Pediatric Neurology Division, Children's Medical Center, Pediatric Center of Excellence, Myelin Disorders Clinic, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Eugen Mengel
- SphinCS Gmbh, Clinical Science for LSD, Hochheim, Germany
| | - Stefan A Kolb
- Actelion, a Janssen company of Johnson & Johnsons, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Brecht
- Actelion, a Janssen company of Johnson & Johnsons, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stanislavs Bardins
- German Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders and Department of Neurology, University Hospital Munich, Campus Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Strupp
- German Center for Vertigo and Balance Disorders and Department of Neurology, University Hospital Munich, Campus Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
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15
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Murray NP, Hunfalvay M, Roberts CM, Tyagi A, Whittaker J, Noel C. Oculomotor Training for Poor Saccades Improves Functional Vision Scores and Neurobehavioral Symptoms. Arch Rehabil Res Clin Transl 2021; 3:100126. [PMID: 34179762 PMCID: PMC8212010 DOI: 10.1016/j.arrct.2021.100126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To determine if participants with saccadic dysfunction improved after participating in a standardized oculomotor training program. A secondary objective was to accurately quantify change in saccades after training using eye tracking technology. A third objective was to examine patients' neurobehavioral symptoms before and after oculomotor training using the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI). DESIGN A prospective study involving treatment and control group pre-post intervention design. SETTING Data were collected in eye clinics with a standardized eye tracking equipment setup. PARTICIPANTS Participants in the bottom 25th percentile for saccadic eye movements (N=92; intervention=46, control=46) who were currently asymptomatic of specific disorder. INTERVENTIONS Participants were randomly assigned to the control or intervention group. The intervention group engaged in 10 minutes of oculomotor training daily for 5 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The ratio of the peak saccadic velocity over its average velocity (the Q ratio), saccadic targeting, and NSI. RESULTS Results revealed significant interactions between control and intervention groups (P=.013). The control group increased 7% from pre to post; however, the intervention group exhibited a 6% decreased from pre to post. Participants in the intervention group demonstrated a 25% improvement in targeting saccade accuracy (P=.021). Additionally, there was a significant reduction in all neurobehavioral factors on the NSI in the intervention group, specifically the affective and cognitive factors relating to poor saccades. CONCLUSIONS For this population, oculomotor training (Q ratio and saccade accuracy) resulted improved saccadic metrics and a significant reduction in overall symptoms as shown on the NSI. Future participants reported improved symptoms pre- and postintervention. Further research is needed to understand saccadic performance and gaze stability during specific tasks (such as reading).
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas P. Murray
- Department of Kinesiology, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina
| | | | - Claire-Marie Roberts
- Department of Psychology, University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom
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16
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Linder SM, Koop MM, Tucker D, Guzi K, Gray DC, Alberts JL. Development and Validation of a Mobile Application to Detect Visual Dysfunction Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. Mil Med 2021; 186:584-591. [PMID: 33499531 DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usaa360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Following mild traumatic brain injury, visual dysfunction is a common occurrence, yet the condition often goes undiagnosed. A mobile application was developed to measure aspects of visual acuity and oculomotor function. The aim of this project was to validate the newly developed suite of outcomes conducive for use in the field to detect visual dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS A custom mobile application was developed on an Apple iPad using iOS operating system software version 11.0 in Objective C to measure near point of convergence (NPC), distance visual acuity, reading fluency, and self-rated convergence insufficiency (CI). To determine construct validity, 50 healthy young adults were administered NPC and distance visual acuity assessments using the iPad and standard clinical approaches. A ruler measurement was obtained simultaneous to the iPad NPC measurement to determine measurement accuracy. All testing was administered by a licensed optometrist and the order of testing (iPad versus clinical) was randomized. RESULTS The correlation coefficient between the iPad and clinical measurements of NPC was 0.893, while iPad and ruler measurement was 0.947. Modest accordance was found between iPad and wall chart measures assessing distance visual acuity. A ceiling effect was evident with use of a wall chart to determine distance visual acuity. Healthy young adults scored a mean (SD) of 13.0 (7.4) on the Convergence Insufficiency Symptom Survey. Reading fluency was highly variable with a mean (SD) of 291 (119) words per minute. CONCLUSIONS iPad measures of NPC were highly correlated with clinical measures, while visual acuity measured with the iPad showed modest correlation. Nonetheless, the suite of visual assessments provide value as screening tools, and when used in combination with reading fluency assessment and self-reported CI may be effective in identifying visual dysfunction following mild traumatic brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan M Linder
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Mandy Miller Koop
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Diane Tucker
- Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Karen Guzi
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.,Case Western Reserve University School of Nursing, Samson Pavilion, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Daniel C Gray
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Jay L Alberts
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.,Department of biomedical engineering and the center for Neurologic Restoration, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
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17
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Feller CN, Goldenberg M, Asselin PD, Merchant-Borna K, Abar B, Jones CMC, Mannix R, Kawata K, Bazarian JJ. Classification of Comprehensive Neuro-Ophthalmologic Measures of Postacute Concussion. JAMA Netw Open 2021; 4:e210599. [PMID: 33656530 PMCID: PMC7930925 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.0599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Symptom-based methods of concussion diagnosis in contact sports result in underdiagnosis and repeated head injury exposure, increasing the risk of long-term disability. Measures of neuro-ophthalmologic (NO) function have the potential to serve as objective aids, but their diagnostic utility is unknown. OBJECTIVE To identify NO measures that accurately differentiate athletes with and without concussion. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This cohort study was conducted among athletes with and without concussion who were aged 17 to 22 years between 2016 and 2017. Eye movements and cognitive function were measured a median of 19 days after injury among patients who had an injury meeting the study definition of concussion while playing a sport (retrospectively selected from a concussion clinic), then compared with a control group of participants without concussion (enrolled from 104 noncontact collegiate athlete volunteers without prior head injury). Data analysis was conducted from November 2019 through May 2020. EXPOSURE Concussion. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Classification accuracy of clinically important discriminator eye-tracking (ET) metrics. Participants' eye movements were evaluated with a 12-minute ET procedure, yielding 42 metrics related to smooth pursuit eye movement (SPEM), saccades, dynamic visual acuity, and reaction time. Clinically important discriminator metrics were defined as those with significantly different group differences and area under the receiver operator characteristic curves (AUROCs) of at least 0.70. RESULTS A total of 34 participants with concussions (mean [SD] age, 19.7 [2.4] years; 20 [63%] men) and 54 participants without concussions (mean [SD] age, 20.8 [2.2] years; 31 [57%] men) completed the study. Six ET metrics (ie, simple reaction time, discriminate reaction time, discriminate visual reaction speed, choice visual reaction speed, and reaction time on 2 measures of dynamic visual acuity 2) were found to be clinically important; all were measures of reaction time, and none were related to SPEM. Combined, these 6 metrics had an AUROC of 0.90 (95% CI, 0.80-0.99), a sensitivity of 77.8%, and a specificity of 92.6%. The 6 metrics remained significant on sensitivity testing. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this study, ET measures of slowed visual reaction time had high classification accuracy for concussion. Accurate, objective measures of NO function have the potential to improve concussion recognition and reduce the disability associated with underdiagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina N. Feller
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York
- Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
| | | | - Patrick D. Asselin
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kian Merchant-Borna
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York
| | - Beau Abar
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York
| | - Courtney Marie Cora Jones
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York
| | - Rebekah Mannix
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Keisuke Kawata
- Department of Kinesiology, Indiana University, Bloomington
| | - Jeffrey J. Bazarian
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York
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18
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Measuring optokinetic after-nystagmus: potential for detecting patients with signs of visual dependence following concussion. J Neurol 2020; 268:1747-1761. [PMID: 33367947 PMCID: PMC8068696 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-020-10359-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Concussed patients with chronic symptoms commonly report dizziness during exposure to environments with complex visual stimuli (e.g. supermarket aisles, busy crossroads). Such visual induced dizziness is well-known in patients with vestibular deficits, in whom it indicates an overreliance on visual cues in sensory integration. Considering that optokinetic after-nystagmus (OKAN) reflects the response of the central network integrating visual and vestibular self-motion signals (velocity storage network), we investigated OKAN in 71 patients [17 (23.9%) females, 30.36 ± 9.05 years old] who suffered from persistent symptoms after a concussion and presented clinical signs suggesting visual dependence. Data were retrospectively compared with 21 healthy individuals [13 (61.9%) females, 26.29 ± 10.00 years old]. The median values of the slow cumulative eye position and of the time constant of OKAN were significantly higher in patients than in healthy individuals (slow cumulative eye position: 124.15 ± 55.61° in patients and 77.87 ± 45.63° in healthy individuals—p = 0.012; time constant: 25.17 ± 10.27 s in patients and 13.95 ± 4.92 s in healthy individuals—p = 0.003). The receiving operating curve (ROC) estimated on the time constant had an overall area under the curve of 0.73. Analysis of the ROC suggests that a test measuring the OKAN time constant could obtain a sensitivity of 0.73 and specificity of 0.72 in determining the origin of the visual-related disturbances in those patients (threshold 16.6 s). In a subset of 43 patients who also performed the Sensory Organization Test (SOT), the proposed OKAN test was twice as sensitive as the SOT. This study suggests that concussed patients with persisting visual symptoms may have an underlying impairment of the velocity storage mechanism and that measuring the OKAN time constant can objectify such impairment.
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19
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Hunfalvay M, Murray NP, Carrick FR. Fixation stability as a biomarker for differentiating mild traumatic brain injury from age matched controls in pediatrics. Brain Inj 2020; 35:209-214. [PMID: 33356610 DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2020.1865566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an increasingly significant health concern worldwide, compounded by the difficultly in detection and diagnosis. Fortunately, a growing body of research has identified oculomotor behavior, specifically fixations, saccades and smooth pursuit eye movements as a promising endophenotype for neurotrauma. To date, limited research exists using fixation stability in a comparative study to indicate the presence of a mild TBI (mTBI), especially in the pediatric population. METHODS The present study examined data from 91 individuals clinically diagnosed with mTBI and a further 140 age- and gender-matched controls. They all completed the RightEye fixation stability test using a remote eye tracker. Participants were compared on five fixation metrics: Bivariate Contour Ellipse Area (BCEA), Convergence Point, Depth, Disassociated Phoria, and Targeting Displacement. RESULTS Results were analyzed using one-way univariate ANOVAs, ROC analysis, and stepwise logistic regression. BCEA results revealed significant differences between groups with the mTBI group showing a larger gaze spread, indicative of less ability to keep the eyes close to the target without deviating. CONCLUSIONS Fixation stability is detrimentally impacted by mTBI in pediatric patients, and the oculomotor test can be used to differentiate between those with and without an mTBI.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicholas P Murray
- Department of Kinesiology, East Carolina University, Greensville, NC, USA
| | - Frederick Robert Carrick
- Centre for Mental Health Research in Association, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL, USA.,MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA, USA
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20
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Hunfalvay M, Murray NP, Roberts CM, Tyagi A, Barclay KW, Carrick FR. Oculomotor Behavior as a Biomarker for Differentiating Pediatric Patients With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Age Matched Controls. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:581819. [PMID: 33281574 PMCID: PMC7690212 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.581819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Children have the highest incidence of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in the United States. However, mTBI, specifically pediatric patients with mTBI, are notoriously difficult to detect, and with a reliance on traditional, subjective measurements of eye movements, the subtle but key oculomotor deficits are often missed. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this project is to determine if the combined measurement of saccades, smooth pursuit, fixations and reaction time represent a biomarker for differentiating pediatric patients with mild traumatic brain injury compared to age matched controls. DESIGN This study used cross-sectional design. Each participant took part in a suite of tests collectively labeled the "Brain Health EyeQ" to measure saccades, smooth pursuit, fixations and reaction time. PARTICIPANTS The present study recruited 231 participants - 91 clinically diagnosed with a single incident mTBI in the last 2 days as assessed by both the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and Graded Symptoms Checklist (GSC), and 140 age and gender-matched controls (n = 165 male, n = 66 female, M age = 14.20, SD = 2.78). RESULTS One-way univariate analyses of variance examined the differences in performance on the tests between participants with mTBI and controls. ROC curve analysis examined the sensitivity and specificity of the tests. Results indicated that together, the "Brain Health EyeQ" tests were successfully able to identify participants with mTBI 75.3% of the time, providing further validation to a growing body of literature supporting the use of eye tracking technology for mTBI identification and diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicholas P. Murray
- Department of Kinesiology, East Carolina University, Greensville, NC, United States
| | - Claire-Marie Roberts
- Health and Social Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Frederick Robert Carrick
- Centre for Mental Health Research in association with University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
- MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA, United States
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21
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Mao Y, He Y, Liu L, Chen X. Disease Classification Based on Eye Movement Features With Decision Tree and Random Forest. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:798. [PMID: 32848569 PMCID: PMC7423879 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Medical research shows that eye movement disorders are related to many kinds of neurological diseases. Eye movement characteristics can be used as biomarkers of Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease (AD), schizophrenia, and other diseases. However, due to the unknown medical mechanism of some diseases, it is difficult to establish an intuitive correspondence between eye movement characteristics and diseases. In this paper, we propose a disease classification method based on decision tree and random forest (RF). First, a variety of experimental schemes are designed to obtain eye movement images, and information such as pupil position and area is extracted as original features. Second, with the original features as training samples, the long short-term memory (LSTM) network is used to build classifiers, and the classification results of the samples are regarded as the evolutionary features. After that, multiple decision trees are built according to the C4.5 rules based on the evolutionary features. Finally, a RF is constructed with these decision trees, and the results of disease classification are determined by voting. Experiments show that the RF method has good robustness and its classification accuracy is significantly better than the performance of previous classifiers. This study shows that the application of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the pathological analysis of eye movement has obvious advantages and good prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxing Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Power Transmission Equipment & System Security and New Technology, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yinghong He
- State Key Laboratory of Power Transmission Equipment & System Security and New Technology, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lumei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Power Transmission Equipment & System Security and New Technology, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xueshuo Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Power Transmission Equipment & System Security and New Technology, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
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22
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Ndungu K, Pulling L, Straiton J. Welcome to Volume 5 of Concussion. Concussion 2020; 5:CNC71. [PMID: 32266083 PMCID: PMC7136982 DOI: 10.2217/cnc-2020-0001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kimberley Ndungu
- Future Science Group, Unitec House, 2 Albert Place, London, N31QB, UK
| | - Lauren Pulling
- Future Science Group, Unitec House, 2 Albert Place, London, N31QB, UK
| | - Jennifer Straiton
- Future Science Group, Unitec House, 2 Albert Place, London, N31QB, UK
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23
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Hunfalvay M, Roberts CM, Murray NP, Tyagi A, Barclay KW, Bolte T, Kelly H, Carrick FR. Vertical smooth pursuit as a diagnostic marker of traumatic brain injury. Concussion 2020; 5:CNC69. [PMID: 32266081 PMCID: PMC7136983 DOI: 10.2217/cnc-2019-0013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM Neural deficits were measured via the eye tracking of vertical smooth pursuit (VSP) as markers of traumatic brain injury (TBI). The present study evaluated the ability of the eye tracking tests to differentiate between different levels of TBI severity and healthy controls. METHODOLOGY Ninety-two individuals divided into four groups (those with mild, moderate or severe TBI and healthy controls) participated in a computerized test of VSP eye movement using a remote eye tracker. RESULTS The VSP eye tracking test was able to distinguish between severe and moderate levels of TBI but unable to detect differences in the performance of participants with mild TBI and healthy controls. CONCLUSION The eye-tracking technology used to measure VSP eye movements is able to provide a timely and objective method of differentiating between individuals with moderate and severe levels of TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Hunfalvay
- RightEye LLC, 7979 Old Georgetown Rd, Suite 801, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Claire-Marie Roberts
- Department of Psychology, Senior Research Fellow, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QY, England
| | - Nicholas P Murray
- Department of Kinesiology, East Carolina University, Minges Coliseum 166, Greensville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Ankur Tyagi
- RightEye LLC, 7979 Old Georgetown Rd, Suite 801, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Kyle W Barclay
- Case Western Reserve University, 10501 Streamview Court, Potomac, MD 20854, USA
| | - Takumi Bolte
- RightEye LLC, 7979 Old Georgetown Rd, Suite 801, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Hannah Kelly
- Emory University, 201 Dowman Dr, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Frederick R Carrick
- Centre for Mental Health Research in association with University of Cambridge, Cambridge UK
- Department of Neurology, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL 32827, USA
- MGH Institute for Health Professions, Boston, MA, USA
- Carrick Institute, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920, USA
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