Mental alertness level determination
A method for determining mental alertness level by monitoring point of gaze, pupillary movement, pupillary response, and other parameters in a subject performing a task, collecting the data in a database, analyzing the data in the database, and assigning the subject to a score indicating the subject's particular mental alertness level in real time.
1. A method comprising:
obtaining eye-tracking data characterizing pupil dilation and point of gaze for an individual;
associating the eye-tracking data with one or more of a plurality of predefined mental alertness levels, the predefined mental alertness levels being generated by providing a setting characterized by one or more mental alertness levels, subjecting one or more than one test individuals engaged in a task to the setting, obtaining eye-tracking data from the test individuals, performing calculations on the eye-tracking data, and modeling the eye-tracking data to describe the one or more mental alertness levels; and
identifying the associated predefined mental alertness level.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of predefined mental alertness levels is generated by:
providing a controlled setting characterized by one or more mental alertness levels;
subjecting one or more than one test individuals engaged in a task to the controlled setting;
obtaining eye-tracking data from the test individuals;
performing calculations on the eye-tracking data; and
modeling the eye-tracking data to describe the one or more mental alertness levels.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: performing a discriminant function analysis of the eye-tracking data.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: performing a nonlinear classification analysis of the eye-tracking data.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: selecting a defined job, task, or activity for the individual to participate in.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the defined job, task, or activity is selected from a group comprising: driving a vehicle; using a vehicle driving simulator; undertaking problem solving; or performing a visual search task.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the eye-tracking data is selected from a group comprising pupil size, eyelid opening and closing speed, vertical eyelid separation distance, vertical location of the pupil, or horizontal location of the pupil.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein
the eye-tracking data are subjected to an analysis comprising one or more of:
calculating an Index of Cognitive Activity (ICA);
calculating a blink rate;
calculating a movement of the pupil in a horizontal and in a vertical plane; and
calculating a divergence of the horizontal location of the pupil.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein
the mental alertness level is selected from a group comprising: fatigued/drowsy, bored, engaged, distracted, overloaded/stressed, and impaired.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data collection and analysis occur in real time.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data analysis is performed on pre-existing data.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring of pupils occurs at a frequency of up to about 1000 observations per second.
13. The method of claim 1 further comprising: monitoring eyes of one or more individuals.
14. The method of claim 1 further comprising: recording the eye-tracking data.
15. The method of claim 1 further comprising: storing the eye-tracking data.
16. The method of claim 1 further comprising: reporting the mental alertness level of the one or more individuals.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising: alerting a third party to the mental alertness level of the individual.
18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising: providing the individual with feedback identifying the mental alertness level.
19. A method comprising:
obtaining eye-tracking data characterizing pupil dilation and point of gaze for an individual;
subjecting the eye-tracking data to an analysis comprising:
calculating an Index of Cognitive Activity (ICA);
calculating a blink rate;
calculating a movement of the pupil in a horizontal and in a vertical plane; and
calculating a divergence of the horizontal location of the pupil;
associating the analyzed eye-tacking data with one or more of a plurality of predefined mental alertness levels; and
identifying the associated predefined mental alertness level.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein the plurality of predefined mental alertness levels is generated by:
providing a controlled setting characterized by one or more mental alertness levels;
subjecting one or more than one test individuals engaged in a task to the controlled setting;
obtaining eye-tracking data from the test individuals;
performing calculations on the eye-tracking data; and
modeling the eye-tracking data to describe the one or more mental alertness levels.
21. The method of claim 19 , further comprising: performing a discriminant function analysis of the eye-tracking data.
22. The method of claim 19 , further comprising: performing a nonlinear classification analysis of the eye-tracking data.
23. The method of claim 19 , wherein the eye-tracking data is selected from a group comprising pupil size, eyelid opening and dosing speed, vertical eyelid separation distance, vertical location of the pupil, or horizontal location of the pupil.
24. An apparatus comprising:
means for obtaining eye-tracking data characterizing pupil dilation and point of gaze for an individual;
means for associating the eye-tracking data with one or more of a plurality of predefined mental alertness levels, the predefined mental alertness levels being generated by providing a setting characterized by one or more mental alertness levels, subjecting one or more than one test individuals engaged in a task to the setting, obtaining eye-tracking data from the test individuals, performing calculations on the eye-tracking data, and modeling the eye-tracking data to describe the one or more mental alertness levels; and
means for identifying the associated predefined mental alertness level.
25. An apparatus comprising:
means for obtaining eye-tracking data characterizing pupil dilation and point of gaze for an individual;
means for subjecting the eye-tracking data to an analysis comprising:
calculating an Index of Cognitive Activity (ICA);
calculating a blink rate;
calculating a movement of the pupil in a horizontal and in a vertical plane; and
calculating a divergence of the horizontal location of the pupil;
means for associating the analyzed eye-tracking data with one or more of a plurality of predefined mental alertness levels; and
means for identifying the associated predefined mental alertness level.