Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 11, 2026
06:46
Investigating the Deployment of Visual Attention Before Accurate and Averaging Saccades via Eye Tracking and Assessment of Visual Sensitivity
Published on: March 18, 2019
Selection with support: How cross-modal attention shapes smooth pursuit eye movements
Geoffrey Kaye1, Adam C Ricci2, Ella Weaire2
1School of Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Australia. geoffrey.kaye@postgrad.curtin.edu.au.
Psychological Research
|June 10, 2026
Summary
Smooth pursuit eye movements are steadier with visual attention than auditory attention. Working memory capacity offers a slight buffer, particularly for auditory tasks, suggesting attention is motorically grounded.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Oculomotor Research
- Human Factors
Background:
- Smooth pursuit eye movements are crucial for tracking moving objects.
- Understanding the interplay between attention, cognition, and sensorimotor control is vital.
- Previous research suggests attentional demands can impact motor performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how dual-task demands, varying in sensory modality and cross-modal conflict, affect smooth pursuit eye movements.
- To explore whether working memory (WM) capacity moderates these effects.
- To elucidate the mechanistic link between attention and motor control in pursuit tasks.
Main Methods:
- Participants performed smooth pursuit while engaging in mental calculations with visual, auditory, or bimodal digit streams.
- Eye movements were recorded to measure pursuit stability and variability.
- Working memory capacity was assessed individually.
Main Results:
- Pursuit was more stable when attention was directed to visual input compared to auditory input, indicating a modality asymmetry.
- Cognitive errors increased with cross-modal conflict, but pursuit variability did not, suggesting cognitive load rather than oculomotor disruption.
- Higher working memory capacity provided a modest buffer against pursuit destabilization, especially under demanding auditory conditions.
Conclusions:
- Attention's impact on smooth pursuit is modality-dependent, with visual attention directly supporting oculomotor circuits.
- Auditory attention relies more on executive functions, which working memory can only partially support.
- The findings support a Selection-with-Support principle, highlighting the motor grounding of attention.
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