TY - JOUR

T1 - Cue predictability changes scaling in eye-movement fluctuations

AU - Wallot, Sebastian

AU - Coey, Charles A.

AU - Richardson, Michael J.

PY - 2015/10/1

Y1 - 2015/10/1

N2 - Recent research has provided evidence for scaling-relations in eye-movement fluctuations, but not much is known about what these scaling relations imply about cognition or eye-movement control. Generally, scaling relations in behavioral and neurophysiological data have been interpreted as an indicator for the coordination of neurophysiological and cognitive processes. In this study, we investigated the effect of predictability in timing and gaze-direction on eye-movement fluctuations. Participants performed a simple eye-movement task, in which a visual cue prompted their gaze to different locations on a spatial layout, and the predictability about temporal and directional aspects of the cue were manipulated. The results showed that scaling exponents in eye-movements decreased with predictability and were related to the participants’ perceived effort during the task. In relation to past research, these findings suggest that scaling exponents reflect a relative demand for voluntary control during task performance.

AB - Recent research has provided evidence for scaling-relations in eye-movement fluctuations, but not much is known about what these scaling relations imply about cognition or eye-movement control. Generally, scaling relations in behavioral and neurophysiological data have been interpreted as an indicator for the coordination of neurophysiological and cognitive processes. In this study, we investigated the effect of predictability in timing and gaze-direction on eye-movement fluctuations. Participants performed a simple eye-movement task, in which a visual cue prompted their gaze to different locations on a spatial layout, and the predictability about temporal and directional aspects of the cue were manipulated. The results showed that scaling exponents in eye-movements decreased with predictability and were related to the participants’ perceived effort during the task. In relation to past research, these findings suggest that scaling exponents reflect a relative demand for voluntary control during task performance.

KW - Psychology

KW - Effort

KW - Eye movements

KW - Voluntary control

KW - Power-law scaling relations

KW - Predictability

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84944280413&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3758/s13414-015-0983-5

DO - 10.3758/s13414-015-0983-5

M3 - Journal articles

C2 - 26337612

AN - SCOPUS:84944280413

VL - 77

SP - 2169

EP - 2180

JO - Attention, Perception & Psychophysics

JF - Attention, Perception & Psychophysics

SN - 1943-3921

IS - 7

ER -