A Geometrical Approach to Human Saccade Simulation

Modeling and simulation of human eye movement have a wide range of applications in many domains. Various attempts have been made to model and simulate eye movements in a physically accurate manner. All the existing models show limitations and problems in simulating secondary and tertiary eye movements. Recent investigation of pulley models (passive and active hypotheses) in representing human eye motion has recognized mathematical complexity in modeling eye behavior. Sophisticated techniques of modeling are required to investigate eye movements. This paper presents a procedure for eye movement simulation through geometrical modeling (an OpenSim script with its recent MATLAB binding) for binocular vision. First order neural dynamics with Millard's muscle model are used to actuate six Extra Ocular Muscles (EOMs). Pulse-step inputs are used to generate the muscle forces around the eye globe. The implemented model is successful in simulating horizontal and vertical movements of the human eye with respect to the prescribed activation. The developed technique is evaluated using responses from lumped parameter models and EOG recordings.