Task relevance induces momentary changes in the functional visual field during reading

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Reading Science
• Visual Perception

Background:

• The functional visual field (FVF) in reading typically extends parafoveally.
• Previous research suggests attentional scope influences visual processing during reading.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if task demands induce momentary tunnel vision during reading.
• To determine if the size of the functional visual field is modulated by task relevance.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a display-change paradigm with preview masking during reading.
• Recorded eye movements of 40 participants reading expository text.
• Assessed the functional visual field within task-relevant and task-irrelevant sentences.

Main Results:

• Orthographic parafoveal-on-foveal effects and preview benefits were found for task-irrelevant words.
• These benefits were absent for task-relevant words, indicating a narrowed functional visual field.
• Demonstrated that the functional visual field size is flexible and context-dependent.

Conclusions:

• Higher cognitive processing demands of task-relevant text induce momentary tunnel vision.
• This attentional narrowing effectively reduces the functional visual field during reading.
• Reading efficiency may be impacted by the dynamic modulation of the functional visual field.