A theory of eye movements during target acquisition

Psychol Rev. 2008 Oct;115(4):787-835. doi: 10.1037/a0013118.

Abstract

The gaze movements accompanying target localization were examined via human observers and a computational model (target acquisition model [TAM]). Search contexts ranged from fully realistic scenes to toys in a crib to Os and Qs, and manipulations included set size, target eccentricity, and target-distractor similarity. Observers and the model always previewed the same targets and searched identical displays. Behavioral and simulated eye movements were analyzed for acquisition accuracy, efficiency, and target guidance. TAM's behavior generally fell within the behavioral mean's 95% confidence interval for all measures in each experiment/condition. This agreement suggests that a fixed-parameter model using spatiochromatic filters and a simulated retina, when driven by the correct visual routines, can be a good general-purpose predictor of human target acquisition behavior.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Attention* / physiology
  • Computer Simulation
  • Discrimination, Psychological / physiology
  • Eye Movements* / physiology
  • Field Dependence-Independence
  • Fixation, Ocular / physiology
  • Humans
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Orientation* / physiology
  • Pattern Recognition, Visual* / physiology
  • Perceptual Masking / physiology
  • Retina / physiology
  • Saccades / physiology
  • Size Perception / physiology