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HYPERSPACE HELMET
What is this?
a) A virtual reality helmet for training astronauts.
b) A new climbing helmet that shows you the next hold you should reach for.
c) A new diagnostic tool used by doctors.
Answer: a new diagnostic tool used by
doctors.
I can see it in your eyes
For close to 30 years now, it has been known that people
suffering from such neurological disturbances as schizophrenia,
autism, Alzheimer's and hyperactivity move their eyes
in a unique way. Now, a new helmet allows doctors to measure
patients' eye movements. Its designers hope to help doctors
make definite diagnoses of hyperactivity.
In the doctor's office.
The doctor places electrodes on both sides of the patient's
eyes, and then has the patient don the helmet.
Inside the helmet, three different lights can come on.
When a light flashes on the right, the patient is instructed
that he or she absolutely must look to the left. Despite
these instructions, some people who are hyperactive cannot
prevent themselves from glancing at the red light on the
right.
Meanwhile, the electrodes measure the patient's eye movements,
producing what is called an "electro-oculogram". A microcontroller
in the helmet analyzes this electro-oculogram and provides
the results. The test is repeated several times.
What about Ritalin?
The helmet, designed by researchers at Queen's University,
in Ontario, is now being used in research on hyperactivity.
Some hyperactive people "fail" the test, while others
"pass". Similarly, some react better than others to Ritalin
(a drug commonly used to treat hyperactivity). This research
should be of interest to many people, given the phenomenal
increase in numbers of children diagnosed as hyperactive
and in Ritalin prescriptions.
Thanks!
This prototype of the HyperSpace Helmet is on loan from
Queen's University in Ontario.
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