Microsaccades and Visual-Spatial Working Memory

Observers performed working memory tasks at varying retinal eccentricities, fixating centrally while microsaccade rates and directions were monitored. We show that microsaccades generate no interference in a working memory task, indicating that spatial working memory is at least partially insulated...

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Main Authors: Joshua T. Gaunt, Bruce Bridgeman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2012-09-01
Series:Journal of Eye Movement Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://bop.unibe.ch/JEMR/article/view/2346
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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 Observers performed working memory tasks at varying retinal eccentricities, fixating centrally while microsaccade rates and directions were monitored. 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 memory as well as microsaccade patterns. Average microsaccade rate peaks after appearance of a fixation cross at the start of a trial, and dips at cue onset and offset. Direction of stimuli in choice tasks did not influence micro-saccade direction, however. Poorer memory accuracy for locations at greater retinal eccentricity calls for revising ideas of short-term spatial representations to include retinotopic or allocentric codes
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 1995-8692
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publishDate 2012-09-01
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series Journal of Eye Movement Research
spelling doaj-art-acaed8bdb20e4c709b232deeb98094722025-08-20T03:48:37ZengMDPI AGJournal of Eye Movement Research1995-86922012-09-015510.16910/jemr.5.5.3Microsaccades and Visual-Spatial Working MemoryJoshua T. Gaunt0Bruce Bridgeman1University of California, Santa CruzUniversity of California, Santa CruzObservers performed working memory tasks at varying retinal eccentricities, fixating centrally while microsaccade rates and directions were monitored. 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 memory as well as microsaccade patterns. Average microsaccade rate peaks after appearance of a fixation cross at the start of a trial, and dips at cue onset and offset. Direction of stimuli in choice tasks did not influence micro-saccade direction, however. Poorer memory accuracy for locations at greater retinal eccentricity calls for revising ideas of short-term spatial representations to include retinotopic or allocentric codeshttps://bop.unibe.ch/JEMR/article/view/2346eye movementsmicrosaccadesworking memory
spellingShingle Joshua T. Gaunt
Bruce Bridgeman
Microsaccades and Visual-Spatial Working Memory
Journal of Eye Movement Research
eye movements
microsaccades
working memory
title Microsaccades and Visual-Spatial Working Memory
title_full Microsaccades and Visual-Spatial Working Memory
title_fullStr Microsaccades and Visual-Spatial Working Memory
title_full_unstemmed Microsaccades and Visual-Spatial Working Memory
title_short Microsaccades and Visual-Spatial Working Memory
title_sort microsaccades and visual spatial working memory
topic eye movements
microsaccades
working memory
url https://bop.unibe.ch/JEMR/article/view/2346
work_keys_str_mv AT joshuatgaunt microsaccadesandvisualspatialworkingmemory
AT brucebridgeman microsaccadesandvisualspatialworkingmemory