Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026
06:49
Using Eye Movements to Evaluate the Cognitive Processes Involved in Text Comprehension
Published on: January 10, 2014
Eye movements reflect thought patterns while listening to literary narratives
Diane Mézière1, Johanna K Kaakinen2, Jarkko Lehtola3
1Department of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology, University of Turku, Finland.
Consciousness and Cognition
|March 2, 2026
Summary
Listeners
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Media Studies
Background:
- Audiobook use is increasing, yet listener text processing remains understudied.
- Understanding how attention shifts between audiobook content and internal thoughts is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate listener thought patterns during audiobook engagement.
- To determine if and how these thought patterns correlate with eye movement metrics.
Main Methods:
- Two studies involved participants listening to a novel and completing mind-wandering questionnaires.
- Study 2 additionally recorded eye movements (fixation duration, count, dispersion; saccade amplitude; blink duration, count).
- Principal components analysis identified key thought pattern components: Immersion, Mind-wandering, and Sub-vocalization.
Main Results:
- Immersion correlated with fewer, less dispersed fixations, shorter saccades, and longer blinks.
- Mind-wandering was associated with more dispersed fixations.
- Sub-vocalization linked to increased fixations, greater dispersion, and more blinks.
Conclusions:
- Eye movements dynamically reflect attentional shifts during audiobook listening.
- These findings offer insights into the cognitive processes underlying literary experiences with audiobooks.
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