Eye Movement as an Indicator of Brain Function

Abstract

The level of consciousness between the alert and drowsy states was classified into four stages (Alert, Resting I, Resting II, Drowsy) by studying three factors of the EEG patterns on 23 normal subjects. The eye movements recorded by electro-oculograph were divided into two groups, i.e. rapid eye movements (R type, r type) and slow eye movements (S type, s type). The occurrence of each type of eye movements was confirmed to change in close correspondence to the stages of consciousness. The eye movement on 43 cases with a disturbance of consciousness by metabolic disease were recorded longitudinally according to clinical states. The S type movements were predominantly observed in a state of clouding of consciousness, while the R type and R-S type were observed in a delirious state.