Visual vs. Spatial Contributions to Microsaccades and Visual-Spatial Working Memory

Microsaccade rates and directions were monitored while observers performed a visual working memory task at varying retinal eccentricities. We show that microsaccades generate no interference in a working memory task, indicating that spatial working memory is at least partially insulated from oculomo...

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Main Authors: Joshua T. Gaunt, Bruce Bridgeman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2014-03-01
Series:Journal of Eye Movement Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://bop.unibe.ch/JEMR/article/view/2375
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author Joshua T. Gaunt
Bruce Bridgeman
author_facet Joshua T. Gaunt
Bruce Bridgeman
author_sort Joshua T. Gaunt
collection DOAJ
description Microsaccade rates and directions were monitored while observers performed a visual working memory task at varying retinal eccentricities. We show that microsaccades generate no interference in a working memory task, indicating that spatial working memory is at least partially insulated from oculomotor activity. Intervening tasks during the memory interval affected microsaccade patterns; microsaccade frequency was consistently higher during concurrent spatial tapping (no visual component) than during exposure to dynamic visual noise (no task). Average microsaccade rate peaked after appearance of a fixation cross at the start of a trial, and dipped at cue onset and offset, consistent with previous results. Direction of stimuli in choice tasks did not influence microsaccade direction,however.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
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spelling doaj-art-3dfb1ff147de4d72bab4d3ae7899e17f2025-08-20T03:48:41ZengMDPI AGJournal of Eye Movement Research1995-86922014-03-017210.16910/jemr.7.2.2Visual vs. Spatial Contributions to Microsaccades and Visual-Spatial Working MemoryJoshua T. Gaunt0Bruce Bridgeman1Department of Psychology, University of California, Santa Cruz, USADepartment of Psychology, University of California, Santa Cruz, USAMicrosaccade rates and directions were monitored while observers performed a visual working memory task at varying retinal eccentricities. We show that microsaccades generate no interference in a working memory task, indicating that spatial working memory is at least partially insulated from oculomotor activity. Intervening tasks during the memory interval affected microsaccade patterns; microsaccade frequency was consistently higher during concurrent spatial tapping (no visual component) than during exposure to dynamic visual noise (no task). Average microsaccade rate peaked after appearance of a fixation cross at the start of a trial, and dipped at cue onset and offset, consistent with previous results. Direction of stimuli in choice tasks did not influence microsaccade direction,however.https://bop.unibe.ch/JEMR/article/view/2375microsaccadesattentionworking memorydynamic visual noiseconcurrent visual tapping
spellingShingle Joshua T. Gaunt
Bruce Bridgeman
Visual vs. Spatial Contributions to Microsaccades and Visual-Spatial Working Memory
Journal of Eye Movement Research
microsaccades
attention
working memory
dynamic visual noise
concurrent visual tapping
title Visual vs. Spatial Contributions to Microsaccades and Visual-Spatial Working Memory
title_full Visual vs. Spatial Contributions to Microsaccades and Visual-Spatial Working Memory
title_fullStr Visual vs. Spatial Contributions to Microsaccades and Visual-Spatial Working Memory
title_full_unstemmed Visual vs. Spatial Contributions to Microsaccades and Visual-Spatial Working Memory
title_short Visual vs. Spatial Contributions to Microsaccades and Visual-Spatial Working Memory
title_sort visual vs spatial contributions to microsaccades and visual spatial working memory
topic microsaccades
attention
working memory
dynamic visual noise
concurrent visual tapping
url https://bop.unibe.ch/JEMR/article/view/2375
work_keys_str_mv AT joshuatgaunt visualvsspatialcontributionstomicrosaccadesandvisualspatialworkingmemory
AT brucebridgeman visualvsspatialcontributionstomicrosaccadesandvisualspatialworkingmemory