PupilEXT

PupilEXT is an open-source pupillometry platform for measuring and analyzing human pupil behavior, an area of burgeoning interest in cognitive science and neurology. The tool emerged in response to the limitations posed by commercial pupillometry systems, which are often expensive and operate on closed-source software, thereby limiting transparency and adaptability in research. PupilEXT addresses these challenges by providing a robust, accessible solution for high-precision pupil measurement under laboratory conditions.

This integrated software is compatible across major operating systems (macOS, Windows, and Linux) and is tailored for professional-grade pupil response research. Its user-friendly graphical interface simplifies complex experimental setups, making professional remote pupil measurement pipelines widely accessible. PupilEXT supports a variety of state-of-the-art open-source pupil detection algorithms, including Starburst, Swirski, ExCuSe, ElSe, PuRe, and PuReST, allowing researchers to select the most suitable method for their specific study requirements.

A key achievement of PupilEXT is its demonstration system, capable of reaching calibration accuracies of 0.003 mm and averaging temporal pupil measurement detection accuracies of 0.0059 mm in stereo mode at 120 frames per second (fps). This level of precision is competitive with, if not superior to, that of high-end commercial stereo eye-tracking systems, marking a significant advancement in pupillometry.

PupilEXT's suite of features encompasses advanced pupil detection, measurement validation, image and data acquisition, offline measurement capabilities, camera calibration, stereo vision, and comprehensive data visualization. System independence is another hallmark of the platform, ensuring it can be utilized across various hardware configurations without compromising functionality.