An Automated Simultaneous Recording System for the Pupillary Movement and Unitary Discharge of the Ciliary Nerve in Cats

Abstract

A computer-automated measuring system was fabricated for real-time, simultaneous data acquisition of the pupillary movement and efferent discharge of the ciliary nerve in animals. For detection of the pupil size, the system incorporates an infrared television camera synchronized by an Apple II computer. It also has an interface circuit which registers the occurrence of nerve impulses and triggers light and electrical stimulators. All the interfaces with the computer were electrically isolated to improve the resistance to noise. A measurement-oriented program was created to provide menudriven commands such as automated measurement, data storage, and data-file load. Simultaneous recordings in the cat have been obtained and are presented for the first time.