METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETECTING VOLUNTARY BINARY RESPONSES BY ANALYZING THE PUPIL DIAMETER OF A SUBJECT

A method is described for detecting voluntary binary responses of a subject affected by partial or total paralysis of skeletal muscles. The method comprises arrangement of at least one visual target (14) in a position proximal to the subject, and at least one visual target (16) in a position distal to the subject. At least one question is posed to the subject, requiring an answer that is either affirmative or negative. Then, a value is recorded (2) identifying the diameter of the subject's pupil during a first time-interval (R1 ) and, optionally, during a second time-interval (R2), in which the pupil diameter may reduce in size, due to the shift of focus from the distal target (16) to the proximal target (14), performed by the subject. A computer (24) may, therefore, classify the response to the question as being affirmative or negative, depending on whether, by processing the recorded values, a reduction in pupil diameter is detected in the first interval or in the second interval, respectively.