Learning eye movement sequences (scan paths) in a number connection test: Evidence for long-term memory based control of attention R Foerster, W Schneider |
|---|
Neuro-cognitive Psychology, Bielefeld University, Germany
|
| In well-learned sequential sensorimotor tasks, humans perform highly systematic scanpaths with fixations on upcoming target locations [e.g., Foerster et al., 2012, Journal of Vision, 12(2):8, 1-15]. However, it is not clear whether systematic scanpaths can also be learned if hand movements are not required. To test scanpaths characteristics in the absence of manual actions, we investigated an oculomotor version of the number connection test. Participants had to look as fast as possible at numbered circles in ascending order (1 – 9). During an acquisition phase, participants accomplished 100 trials with the same spatial arrangement of 9 circles. Overall, they became faster and performed fewer fixations. In addition, the distance of fixations to the upcoming target circle decreased. In a consecutive retrieval phase, a blank screen appeared and participants were asked to look at the empty screen in the same order as during the acquisition phase. Participants were able to perform this complex sequential sub-task with highly similar scanpaths across sub-tasks. Results imply a LTM-based control of sequential attention shifts and eye movements in well-learned sequential tasks even if visual information is no longer available. |
| Up Home |
|---|