Change detection in the flicker paradigm: the role of fixation position within the scene

Eye movements were monitored while participants performed a change detection task with images of natural scenes. An initial and a modified scene image were displayed in alternation, separated by a blank interval (flicker paradigm). In the modified image, a single target object was changed either by deleting that object from the scene or by rotating that object 90 degrees in depth. In Experiment 1, fixation position at detection was more likely to be in the target object region than in any other region of the scene. In Experiment 2, participants detected scene changes more accurately, with fewer false alarms, and more quickly when allowed to move their eyes in the scene than when required to maintain central fixation. These data suggest a major role for fixation position in the detection of changes to natural scenes across discrete views.