A novel functional magnetic resonance imaging compatible search-coil eye-tracking system

Abstract

Measuring eye movements (EMs) using the search-coil eye-tracking technique is superior to video-based infrared methods [Collewijn H, van der Mark F, Jansen TC. Precise recording of human eye movements. Vision Res 1975;15(3):447-50], which suffer from the instability of pupil size, blinking behavior and lower temporal resolution. However, no conventional functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)-compatible search-coil eye tracker exists. The main problems for such a technique are the interaction between the transmitter coils and the magnetic gradients used for imaging as well as the limited amount of space in a scanner. Here we present an approach to overcome these problems and we demonstrate a method to record EMs in an MRI scanner using a search coil. The system described has a spatial resolution of 0.07 degrees (visual angle) and a high temporal resolution (22 kHz). The transmitter coils are integrated into the visual presentation system and the control/analysis unit is portable, which enables us to integrate the eye tracker with an MRI scanner. Our tests demonstrate low noise in the recorded eye traces and scanning with minimal artifact. Furthermore, the induced current in the search coil caused by the RF pulses does not lead to measurable heating. Altogether, this MR-compatible search-coil eye tracker can be used to precisely monitor EMs with high spatial and temporal resolution during fMRI. It can therefore be of great importance for studies requiring accurate fixation of a target, or measurement and study of the subject's oculomotor system.