Contrast sensitivity is an informative measure of
visual function, but current tools for assessing it are limited by the attentional, motor, and communicative abilities of the participant. These participants are often less able to engage with psychophysical tasks or follow an experiment's instructions, and alternative approaches have disadvantages that limit their usefulness in
clinical settings. Here, we describe an efficient new measure of contrast sensitivity—‘Curveball’—that continuously infers stimulus
visibility through smooth
eye tracking instead of perceptual report. The procedure rapidly lowers stimulus contrast in real time until the threshold is found. The task is repeatable, well-correlated with results from conventional psychophysical methods, and sensitive to improvements in
visual acuity from refractive correction. The procedure requires minimal instruction to administer and takes only five minutes to estimate a full contrast sensitivity function (CSF), which is comparable to the best existing methods available for healthy adults. Our technique relies on a minimum level of smooth tracking ability, which could limit its usefulness for participants with specific visual impairments, and we discuss potential solutions to this problem. Overall, our findings indicate that Curveball is a promising means of accurately assessing contrast sensitivity in previously neglected populations.A method to measure
gaze tracking behavior comprising, displaying, on a display, one or more variable-contrast, variable-spatial-frequency stimuli each moving from a first location to a second location. Generating ordered sequences of stimuli (“sweeps”) that are incremented upon detected tracking behavior. Generating, by an eye-tracking monitor, a
gaze position
signal as the visual stimulus moves from the first position to the second position, the
gaze position
signal detecting a position of one or both eyes. Filtering the gaze position
signal by identifying gaze position samples that are not consistent with the limitations of the
human eye and / or
visual system. Calculating a trajectory-match
score for each stimulus on each frame from comparison of that stimulus's position to the gaze position signal over a time window. Identifying the
visual function of the subject in response to the trajectory-match scores. Wherein the variable-contrast stimulus increases in contrast. Wherein the variable-contrast stimulus decreases in contrast. Wherein the variable-contrast stimulus alters in a step-wise manner by multiplying the current contrast by a variable between 0.5-1.5 on each frame. Wherein the variable-contrast stimulus is exchanged for the next stimulus in that sweep sequence. Wherein indirect progress along similar sweeps is inferred and recorded. Interpolating a contrast sensitivity function (CSF) from a set of one or more sweep sequences. Detecting, empirically, the subset of one or more sweep sequences that is most informative about the CSF for a given
population.