A new system to analyze the temporal changes of the event-related brain potential associated with offset of saccades

Abstract

When we measure the visual event-related potential (ERP), a subject has to fix eyes to a point on the display in an experimental situation or in a diagnosis on the visual function. Therefore, it is very hard to apply the event-related potential (ERP) to assessment of sensation and attention at clinical fields or at industrial settings. We developed a system to analyze the brain potential associated with offset of saccadic eye movements. The potential is called eye fixation-related potential (EFRP). EFRP is identical with the so-called visual ERP. We can measure the topographical change of EFRP in real time. The first system with a UNIX (Version 1) was very fast, but very expensive. However, the new system (Version 2) is more economical, because it can be used in a notebook computer with Windows XP. EEG and EOG data can be sampled in real time, although the data are analyzed offline. The new system will be useful to study cognitive factors under eye movement conditions.