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Modulation of microsaccade rate by task difficulty revealed through between- and within-trial comparisons
Xin Gao1, Hongmei Yan1, Hong-Jin Sun2
1Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
Journal of Vision
|March 6, 2015
Summary
Mental exertion during nonvisual tasks, like mental arithmetic, can suppress microsaccade (MS) rate. Task difficulty influences this suppression, with higher difficulty leading to fewer MSs during calculation.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
- Psychology
Background:
- Microsaccades (MSs) are small, rapid eye movements during fixation.
- MSs are primarily studied for visual processing roles.
- Emerging evidence suggests MS rate is modulated by nonvisual cognitive load.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of task difficulty on MS rate during nonvisual mental arithmetic.
- To explore the relationship between cognitive processing phases and MS rate.
Main Methods:
- Participants performed a nonvisual mental arithmetic task.
- MS rate was measured across different task phases: during calculation, postcalculation, and a control condition.
- Subjective task difficulty was also recorded.
Main Results:
- An inverse relationship was found between MS rate and subjective task difficulty during calculation.
- MS rate doubled from the during-calculation to the postcalculation phase.
- MS rate was significantly higher in the control condition than postcalculation.
Conclusions:
- Nonvisual cognitive processing can suppress microsaccade rate.
- The degree of MS suppression is dependent on task difficulty.
- Task phases exhibit distinct MS rate patterns, indicating cognitive modulation.
