Eyes on the past: Gaze stability differs between temporal expectation and temporal attention

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Oculomotor Control

Background:

• Temporal expectation, facilitated by foreperiods, and temporal attention improve performance and gaze stability.
• Previous trial foreperiods (selection history) modulate oculomotor behavior and expectation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if preceding foreperiods guide temporal attention.
• To understand the interplay between temporal expectation and temporal attention in oculomotor control.

Main Methods:

• Behavioral experiments measuring performance and gaze stability (microsaccades).
• Manipulation of foreperiod duration and preceding foreperiod length.
• Analysis of microsaccade timing and rate.

Main Results:

• Temporal attention improved performance and gaze stability regardless of preceding foreperiod.
• Attention inhibited microsaccade rates only with expected preceding foreperiods.
• Preceding late foreperiods weakened expectation effects, but attention overrode this.

Conclusions:

• Oculomotor system flexibility does not directly equate to performance gains.
• Selection history can inform expectation but does not dictate attentional deployment.
• Temporal attention and expectation interact dynamically, with attention playing a dominant role in guiding oculomotor behavior.