Anticipation of cognitive conflict is reflected in microsaccades: Evidence from a cued-flanker task
Microsaccade frequency has recently been shown to be sensitive to high-level cognitive processes such as attention and memory. In the present study we explored the effects of anticipated cognitive conflict. Participants were administered a variant of the flanker task, which is known to elicit cognit...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Eye Movement Research |
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| Online Access: | https://bop.unibe.ch/JEMR/article/view/4334 |
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| author | Mario Dalmaso Luigi Castelli Giovanni Galfano |
| author_facet | Mario Dalmaso Luigi Castelli Giovanni Galfano |
| author_sort | Mario Dalmaso |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Microsaccade frequency has recently been shown to be sensitive to high-level cognitive processes such as attention and memory. In the present study we explored the effects of anticipated cognitive conflict. Participants were administered a variant of the flanker task, which is known to elicit cognitive interference. At the beginning of each trial, participants received a colour cue providing information about the upcoming target frame. In two thirds of the trials, the cue reliably informed the participants that in the upcoming trial the flankers either matched the central target letter or not. Hence, participants could accurately anticipate whether cognitive conflict would arise or not. On neutral trials, the cue provided no useful information. The results showed that microsaccadic rate time-locked to cue onset was reduced on trials in which an upcoming cognitive conflict was expected. These findings provide new insights about top-down modulations of microsaccade dynamics. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0d1ab8249c03461fa1ee0fa9732cd65f |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1995-8692 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Eye Movement Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-0d1ab8249c03461fa1ee0fa9732cd65f2025-08-20T01:51:07ZengMDPI AGJournal of Eye Movement Research1995-86922019-01-0112610.16910/jemr.12.6.3Anticipation of cognitive conflict is reflected in microsaccades: Evidence from a cued-flanker taskMario Dalmaso0Luigi Castelli1Giovanni Galfano2University of PadovaUniversity of PadovaUniversity of PadovaMicrosaccade frequency has recently been shown to be sensitive to high-level cognitive processes such as attention and memory. In the present study we explored the effects of anticipated cognitive conflict. Participants were administered a variant of the flanker task, which is known to elicit cognitive interference. At the beginning of each trial, participants received a colour cue providing information about the upcoming target frame. In two thirds of the trials, the cue reliably informed the participants that in the upcoming trial the flankers either matched the central target letter or not. Hence, participants could accurately anticipate whether cognitive conflict would arise or not. On neutral trials, the cue provided no useful information. The results showed that microsaccadic rate time-locked to cue onset was reduced on trials in which an upcoming cognitive conflict was expected. These findings provide new insights about top-down modulations of microsaccade dynamics.https://bop.unibe.ch/JEMR/article/view/4334Microsaccadeseye movementseye trackingattentioncognitive conflictcued-flanker task |
| spellingShingle | Mario Dalmaso Luigi Castelli Giovanni Galfano Anticipation of cognitive conflict is reflected in microsaccades: Evidence from a cued-flanker task Journal of Eye Movement Research Microsaccades eye movements eye tracking attention cognitive conflict cued-flanker task |
| title | Anticipation of cognitive conflict is reflected in microsaccades: Evidence from a cued-flanker task |
| title_full | Anticipation of cognitive conflict is reflected in microsaccades: Evidence from a cued-flanker task |
| title_fullStr | Anticipation of cognitive conflict is reflected in microsaccades: Evidence from a cued-flanker task |
| title_full_unstemmed | Anticipation of cognitive conflict is reflected in microsaccades: Evidence from a cued-flanker task |
| title_short | Anticipation of cognitive conflict is reflected in microsaccades: Evidence from a cued-flanker task |
| title_sort | anticipation of cognitive conflict is reflected in microsaccades evidence from a cued flanker task |
| topic | Microsaccades eye movements eye tracking attention cognitive conflict cued-flanker task |
| url | https://bop.unibe.ch/JEMR/article/view/4334 |
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