Study of How Attention and Inhibition Affect Eye Movements During Visual Search in Adults

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying individual differences in eye movement patterns during active visual search, focusing on how attentional and inhibitory functions contribute to these variations. This research aims to better understand why some people fixate on a single location longer than others before moving their eyes, using behavioral tasks to measure these cognitive processes. Participants will complete three tasks while their eye movements are tracked. The first is a visual search task where they find a target among distractors. The second assesses attention by detecting briefly-presented peripheral targets. The third task evaluates inhibitory control by having participants attempt to stop programmed eye movements. Eye-tracking technology records behavioral performance and eye movements throughout. During the study, participants will perform these tasks seated with their heads stabilized. Researchers will measure fixation duration, fixation count, reaction times, attention thresholds, and responses to distractions. Data from these tasks will provide insights into eye movement variability, with no masking or placebo involved. The study runs from September 2024 to May 2026, enrolling healthy adults aged 18 to 65 years.

An Investigation of Attentional and Inhibitory Processes During Active Visual Search in Humans