Visual Sequential Search Test Analysis: An Algorithmic Approach

Giuseppe Alessio D’Inverno,Maria Lucia Sampoli,Alessandra Rufa,Monica Bianchini,Sara Brunetti,Dafin Fior Muresanu

doi:10.3390/math9222952

Giuseppe Alessio D’Inverno, Maria Lucia Sampoli + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/math9222952

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Journal: Mathematics	Publication Date: Nov 18, 2021
Citations: 3	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Siena

Abstract

In this work we present an algorithmic approach to the analysis of the Visual Sequential Search Test (VSST) based on the episode matching method. The data set included two groups of patients, one with Parkinson’s disease, and another with chronic pain syndrome, along with a control group. The VSST is an eye-tracking modified version of the Trail Making Test (TMT) which evaluates high order cognitive functions. The episode matching method is traditionally used in bioinformatics applications. Here it is used in a different context which helps us to assign a score to a set of patients, under a specific VSST task to perform. Experimental results provide statistical evidence of the different behaviour among different classes of patients, according to different pathologies.

Highlights

The Trail Making Test (TMT) is a popular neuropsychological test, commonly used in clinical settings as a diagnostic tool for the evaluation of some frontal functions
The test consists of a visual search of objects in an image, where the objects are arranged in sequences of loci called regions of interest (ROIs)
While classical TMT requires an individual to draw lines sequentially connecting an assigned sequence of letters and/or numbers with a pencil or mouse, the same task can be performed by using the eye-tracking technology and asking the subject to fixate the sequence of ROIs in the prescribed order [2]

Summary

Introduction

The Trail Making Test (TMT) is a popular neuropsychological test, commonly used in clinical settings as a diagnostic tool for the evaluation of some frontal functions. It provides qualitative information on high order mental activities, including speed of processing, mental flexibility, visual spatial orientation, working memory and executive functions. It was part of the Army Individual Test Battery (1944) and subsequently was incorporated into the Halstead–Reitan Battery [1]. Eye-tracking studies have proved their efficacy in the diagnosis of many common neurological pathologies, such as Parkinson’s disease, brain trauma and neglect phenomena [3,4,5,6]

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