Modulation of microsaccade rate by task difficulty revealed through between- and within-trial comparisons

Journal of Vision
Xin GaoHong-Jin Sun

Abstract

Microsaccades (MSs) are small eye movements that occur during attempted visual fixation. While most studies concerning MSs focus on their roles in visual processing, some also suggest that the MS rate can be modulated by the amount of mental exertion involved in nonvisual processing. The current study focused on the effects of task difficulty on MS rate in a nonvisual mental arithmetic task. Experiment 1 revealed a general inverse relationship between MS rate and subjective task difficulty. During Experiment 2, three task phases with different requirements were identified: during calculation (between stimulus presentation and response), postcalculation (after reporting an answer), and a control condition (undergoing a matching sequence of events without the need to make a calculation). MS rate was observed to approximately double from the during-calculation phase to the postcalculation phase, and was significantly higher in the control condition compared to postcalculation. Only during calculation was the MS rate generally decreased with greater task difficulty. Our results suggest that the nonvisual cognitive processing can suppress MS rate, and that the extent of such suppression is related to the task difficulty.

Citations

Aug 28, 2015·Journal of Neurophysiology·Mati JoshuaStephen G Lisberger
Jun 24, 2017·Scientific Reports·Maya YablonskiMichal Ben-Shachar
Apr 4, 2019·Cerebral Cortex·Mark J RobertsPeter De Weerd
Jul 18, 2017·Frontiers in Psychology·Mathias BenedekChristof Körner
Feb 27, 2021·Consciousness and Cognition·Thijs VroeghElke B Lange
Mar 23, 2021·Frontiers in Human Neuroscience·Jui-Tai ChenChin-An Wang
Apr 4, 2021·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Milena RaffiAlessandro Piras
Apr 27, 2021·Frontiers in Psychology·Mareike BrychBarbara Händel
Aug 10, 2021·Cortex; a Journal Devoted to the Study of the Nervous System and Behavior·Simon Majed CehMathias Benedek
Oct 31, 2021·The European Journal of Neuroscience·Chin-An Wang, Douglas P Munoz
May 30, 2019··Justyna Żurawska, Justyna Żurawska

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

The European Journal of Neuroscience
Eva SiegenthalerSusana Martinez-Conde
Advances in Ophthalmology = Fortschritte Der Augenheilkunde = Progrès En Ophtalmologie
F Körner
Perceptual and Motor Skills
Y Tanaka, K Yamaoka
The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
P A AllenH Vires-Collins
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved