Non-invasive brain function examination

A brain function examining apparatus for performing an examination of a brain function by detection of a pupillary size of a subject, which apparatus comprises:

• a) a light source for illuminating a pupil of the subject;
• b) a pupillary detector for detecting the pupillary size;
• c) an index calculating unit for calculating a plurality of subject indexes, each subject index indicative of a characteristics of the pupil based on the pupillary size detected by the pupillary detector;
• d) a database for storing a plurality of base indexes, each base index indicative of a characteristic of a pupil that can be used as a reference;
• e) a multivalue calculator for calculating a first number of discriminant scores based on a second number of input values that is larger than the first number, the input values including the subject indexes calculated by the index calculating unit and the base indexes stored in the database;
• f) an output unit for outputting the subject index calculated by the index calculating unit, and the base index stored in the database.

A brain function examining apparatus for performing an examination of a brain function for dementia by detection of a pupillary size of a subject, which apparatus comprises:

• a) a light source for illuminating a pupil of the subject;
• b) a pupillary detector for detecting the pupillary size;
• c) an index calculating unit for calculating a subject index indicative of a characteristic of the pupil based on the pupillary size detected by the pupillary detector, wherein:
• c1) the characteristic of the pupil is a quality associated with variation of pupillary size;
• and
• c2) the subject index includes at least one of:
• latency,
• pupillary constricting acceleration,
• maximum acceleration of pupillary constriction,
• time required to attain a maximum velocity of pupillary constriction,
• time required to attain a maximum velocity of pupillary redilation, and
• time required to attain a maximum acceleration of pupillary constriction;
• d) a database for storing a base index indicative of a characteristic of a pupil that can be used as a reference;
• and
• e) an output unit for outputting the subject index calculated by the index calculating unit, and the base index stored in the database.