PyPlr

PyPlr integrates a video-based eye-tracker with controllable light sources via a custom Python library to design, optimize, deliver, synchronize, and analyze stimuli and pupil responses for studies of the human pupillary light reflex (PLR).

Key Features:

• Python integration: A custom Python library that connects a video-based eye-tracker with controllable light sources for synchronized data acquisition.
• Stimulus design and delivery: Tools for designing, temporally and spectrally optimizing, and delivering light stimuli.
• Device synchronization: Utilities for synchronizing the eye-tracker and light source during stimulus presentation.
• Pupil analysis and parametrization: Capabilities for comprehensive analysis and pupillometer-style parametrization of pupil data.
• Integrating sphere stimulation: Full-field, homogeneous retinal stimulation using a low-cost integrating sphere as an alternative to Maxwellian view systems.
• 10-primary light engine support: Native software support for a commercial 10-primary light engine providing precise temporal and spectral control.
• Spectral calibration utilities: Built-in utilities for spectral calibration of light stimuli.
• Support for varied stimuli: Support for temporally and spectrally varying stimuli, including narrowband options and long- versus short-wavelength comparisons.

Scientific Applications:

• Pupillometer-style PLR measurement: Parametrization of the pupillary light reflex in response to flashes of white light using pupillometer-style metrics.
• PIPR comparison: Comparison of post-illumination pupil responses (PIPR) to flashes of long- and short-wavelength light.
• Temporal and spectral stimulus studies: Experiments probing PLR mechanisms with a wide array of temporally and spectrally varying stimuli, including narrowband stimuli.

Methodology:

Computational methods include a custom Python library for integrating a video-based eye-tracker with controllable light sources, stimulus design, temporal and spectral optimization, controlled delivery, device synchronization, spectral calibration utilities, and analysis/parametrization of PLR and PIPR.