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. 2024 Apr 24;8(2):25.
doi: 10.3390/vision8020025.

A Pilot Study to Improve Cognitive Performance and Pupil Responses in Mild Cognitive Impaired Patients Using Gaze-Controlled Gaming

Maria Solé Puig  1 , Patricia Bustos Valenzuela  2 , August Romeo  2 , Hans Supèr  1   2   3   4   5   6
Affiliations

A Pilot Study to Improve Cognitive Performance and Pupil Responses in Mild Cognitive Impaired Patients Using Gaze-Controlled Gaming

Maria Solé Puig et al. Vision (Basel). .

Abstract

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) may progress to severe forms of dementia, so therapy is needed to maintain cognitive abilities. The neural circuitry for oculomotor control is closely linked to that which controls cognitive behavior. In this study, we tested whether training the oculomotor system with gaze-controlled video games could improve cognitive behavior in MCI patients. Patients played a simple game for 2-3 weeks while a control group played the same game using a mouse. Cognitive improvement was assessed using the MoCA screening test and CANTAB. We also measured eye pupil and vergence responses in an oddball paradigm. The results showed an increased score on the MoCA test specifically for the visuospatial domain and on the Rapid Visual Information Processing test of the CANTAB battery. Pupil responses also increased to target stimuli. Patients in the control group did not show significant improvements. This pilot study provides evidence for the potential cognitive benefits of gaze-controlled gaming in MCI patients.

Keywords: MCI; attention; digital treatment; pupil; visual oddball.

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Conflict of interest statement

Hans Supèr is the co-founder of Braingaze.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Illustration of the video game. Note that in the actual game, only 1 target (dartboard) or distractor (owl) was presented. The pointer indicated the position of the eye gaze or mouse cursor in real time.
Figure 2
Figure 2
MoCA scores obtained before (pre) and after (post) the gaming sessions.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Scores of the MoCA in the visuospatial obtained before and after the gaming sessions. Each dot represents the score of one participant.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Rapid visual information processing (RVPA) scores of the CANTAB obtained before and after the gaming sessions. Each dot represents the score of one participant.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Scores of the MoCA in the visuospatial domain obtained before and after the gaming sessions. Each dot represents the score of one participant.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Pupil responses before (pre) and after (post) the gaming sessions to targets (targ) and distractors (distr).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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