Over the last few years, there has been a growing interest in stimulating different parts of the visual processing stream including the retina, the optic nerve, the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) or the primary visual cortex ( Pezaris and Eskandar, 2009). We discuss the limitations of the current devices and highlight the need to use eye-tracking methodology in order to introduce gaze-contingent information to visual prosthetics. The present review outlines what is currently known about the mechanisms underlying spatial updating and reviews the attempts of current visual prosthetic devices to overcome the hurdle of gaze contingency. Inspired by the need to overcome the hurdle of gaze contingency in artificial vision, we aim to provide a thorough overview of the research addressing the neural underpinnings of eye compensation, as well as its relevance in visual prosthetics. While the former commonly accounts for gaze shifts, the latter requires the use of eye-tracking or similar technology in order to deliver percepts based on gaze position. To-date, artificial percepts to the blind population have been provided either by intraocular light-sensing circuitry or by using external cameras. While most artificial vision studies acknowledge its importance in providing accurate visual percepts to the blind implanted patients, the majority of the current devices do not compensate for gaze position. Beyond its importance for basic research, gaze contingency represents a challenge for visual prosthetics as well. Many questions regarding the processes involved in updating visual information as a function of the movements of the eyes are still open for research. Understanding the mechanisms underlying spatial updating (i.e., gaze contingency) represents an important, yet unresolved issue in the fields of visual perception and cognitive neuroscience.
4Department of Neurosurgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United Statesĭespite appearing automatic and effortless, perceiving the visual world is a highly complex process that depends on intact visual and oculomotor function.3Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.2Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.1Brainlab – Cognitive Neuroscience Research Group, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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