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Investigating the Deployment of Visual Attention Before Accurate and Averaging Saccades via Eye Tracking and Assessment of Visual Sensitivity
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Trial-type probability and task-switching effects on behavioral response characteristics in a mixed saccade task.
Jordan E Pierce1, J Brett McCardel, Jennifer E McDowell
1Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, 125 Baldwin Street, Athens, GA, 30602, USA, jepierce@uga.edu.
Experimental Brain Research
|December 25, 2014
Summary
Cognitive control in eye movements is complex. High probability of antisaccades impairs prosaccade accuracy, while task switching impacts overall performance, revealing cognitive load effects.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Eye movement circuitry, particularly saccade production, serves as a model for cognitive control.
- Prosaccades (visually guided) and antisaccades (goal-driven) involve distinct control processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how manipulating the probability of prosaccade and antisaccade trials affects behavioral responses.
- To examine the impact of task-switching demands on saccade performance under varying trial probabilities.
Main Methods:
- Participants performed prosaccade and antisaccade tasks with manipulated trial-type probabilities and task-switching cues.
- Behavioral data, including error rates and reaction times, were collected and analyzed.
Main Results:
- Lower probability of prosaccades increased errors, while trial-type probability did not affect antisaccade accuracy.
- Increased antisaccade trial probability led to longer reaction times for both saccade types.
- Task switching decreased accuracy on switched trials, and prior antisaccades caused reaction time costs/benefits.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive control demands and residual inhibition from antisaccades significantly influence saccade performance based on trial probability and task switching.
- The prosaccade task is more susceptible to performance decrements when frequent, complex antisaccades are present.
