Nonexplicit change detection in complex dynamic settings: what eye movements reveal

We employed a computer-controlled command-and-control (C2) simulation and recorded eye movements to examine the extent and nature of the inability to detect critical changes in dynamic displays when change detection is implicit (i.e., requires no explicit report) to the operator's task.

Change blindness-the failure to notice significant changes to a visual scene-may have dire consequences on performance in C2 and surveillance operations.

Participants performed a radar-based risk-assessment task involving multiple subtasks. Although participants were not required to explicitly report critical changes to the operational display, change detection was critical in informing decision making. Participants' eye movements were used as an index of visual attention across the display.

Nonfixated (i.e., unattended) changes were more likely to be missed than were fixated (i.e., attended) changes, supporting the idea that focused attention is necessary for conscious change detection. The finding of significant pupil dilation for changes undetected but fixated suggests that attended changes can nonetheless be missed because of a failure of attentional processes.

Change blindness in complex dynamic displays takes the form of failures in establishing task-appropriate patterns of attentional allocation.

These findings have implications in the design of change-detection support tools for dynamic displays and work procedure in C2 and surveillance.