System and method for detecting neurological disorders and for measuring general cognitive performance

A system for detecting one or more neurological disorders and to check cognitive compromises in a subject by measuring eye movements and pupil behavior and applying an intelligent algorithm, said measuring of eye movements performed while said subject is reading;

• said system comprising:
• a. an eye tracker, said eye tracker configured to monitor eye movements and pupil behavior of a subject while the subject is reading a text;
• b. a processor, said processor configured to receive data from said eye tracker while said subject is reading said text;
• c. an intelligent algorithm for learning, identifying, typifying and classifying eye movements features in pathologies and within pathologies;
• and
• d. a display means, said display configured to display the output of said intelligent algorithm on a test report;
• wherein said processor is further configured to analyze eye tracking data for evidence of one or more neurological disorders and from cognitive compromises and to report, in said test report, a detection and classification of said one or more neurological disorders and cognitive compromises of said subject both, between and within pathologies.

A method for evaluating compromises in neurological functions associated with Multiple Sclerosis [MS], said method comprising steps of:

• a. providing a system for evaluating compromises in neurological functions associated with MS;
• b. requesting a subject to fixate on a central fixation cross surrounded by boxes in an upper right, lower right, upper left and lower left zones;
• c. for a number of repetitions, presenting a stimulus image in one of the zones to the subject;
• the subject is requested to remember which zone each stimulus image appeared and in what order;
• d. presenting to the subject a cue corresponding to one of the presented stimulus images
• e. measuring a saccade of the subject in response to said step of presenting a cue;
• the subject is requested to look at the zone in which was the presented said stimulus image corresponding to said cue;
• f. repeating steps of presenting a cue and measuring a saccade;
• g repeating steps b-e for a number of trials;
• h. calculating at least one of the following:
• i. a WM effect, wherein the WM effect is a measure that increases when WM demand increases such that for each cue number, the WM effect is represented by the ratio between a number of errors reported by the subject through all trials, and a number of trials;
• and
• ii. an average saccadic latency, saccadic latency defined as an amount of time for said subject to initiate a saccade to said zone;
• iii. reporting one or more of
• iv. a degree of compromise in working memory, with increased said WM effect;
• and
• ii. a degree of compromise in executive processes, with increased said saccadic latency;
• h. wherein said method further comprises additional steps comprising measurements performed during said step of presenting a stimulus image, during which said subject is further requested to look at said stimulus image;
• said measurements comprising measuring at least one of the following:
• i. a lack in an amplitude of pupillary dilatation of the subject as the cognitive load increases;
• ii. a number of fixations made by the subject on said stimulus image;
• and
• iii a gaze duration by said subject on said stimulus image;
• and
• k. said additional steps further comprising calculating and reporting at least one of the following:
• i. a degree of compromise of subcortical brain areas, with a lack in the amplitude of pupillary dilatation as the cognitive load increases;
• ii. a degree of compromise of executive processes, with increased said number of fixations;
• and
• iii. a degree of compromise of executive processes and working memory, with increased said gaze duration.