A novel system for measuring visual potentials evoked by passive head-mounted display stimulators.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Pattern reversal visual evoked potential (PR-VEP) is a key clinical test for optic nerve pathologies.
• Current diagnostic devices can be expensive and not widely accessible.
• Novel, cost-effective solutions are needed to improve diagnostic accessibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the performance of a novel integrated device using a passive head-mounted display (HMD) for the PR-VEP clinical test.
• To assess the feasibility and efficacy of using a low-cost HMD for generating visual stimuli.
• To compare the results obtained with the novel device against established methods.

Main Methods:

• A passive head-mounted display (Google Cardboard®) was utilized with an Android® application to present checkerboard stimuli.
• Electroencephalographic (EEG) signals were recorded from 20 healthy subjects (12 female, 8 male, aged 20-26).
• Morphological PR-VEPs and frequency response were analyzed and compared with existing literature.

Main Results:

• The novel prototype successfully evoked PR-VEPs with typical triphasic waveforms.
• Results showed moderate agreement with waveforms generated by more expensive HMDs and standard devices.
• Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences, except for P100 amplitude and peak time (p < 0.005).

Conclusions:

• The proposed low-cost HMD solution is effective for PR-VEP testing.
• This technology offers a potential new generation of inexpensive and accessible non-invasive diagnostic devices.
• The findings support the use of this device for early detection of optic nerve pathologies.