Abstract
This work presents a visual analytics approach to explore microsaccade distributions in high-frequency eye tracking data. Research studies often apply filter algorithms and parameter values for microsaccade detection. Even when the same algorithms are employed, different parameter values might be adopted across different studies. In this paper, we present a visual analytics system (VisME) to promote reproducibility in the data analysis of microsaccades. It allows users to interactively vary the parametric values for microsaccade filters and evaluate the resulting influence on microsaccade behavior across individuals and on a group level. In particular, we exploit brushing-and-linking techniques that allow the microsaccadic properties of space, time, and movement direction to be extracted, visualized, and compared across multiple views. We demonstrate in a case study the use of our visual analytics system on data sets collected from natural scene viewing and show in a qualitative usability study the usefulness of this approach for eye tracking researchers. We believe that interactive tools such as VisME will promote greater transparency in eye movement research by providing researchers with the ability to easily understand complex eye tracking data sets; such tools can also serve as teaching systems. VisME is provided as open source software.
Highlights
Eye movements are often separated into fixations, the periods when the eyes stay rather still, and saccades, the rapid eye movements between multiple fixations
Fixations were determined by the eye tracking software of the systems
The data set was originally created to verify Yarbus’s assumption that the eye movement is highly influenced by an observer’s task. We chose this data set because it is high-frequency data that allows extraction of microsaccades and participants performed different high-level cognitive tasks that were likely to have engaged covert attention even if the study was not designed to investigate this aspect of gaze behavior
Summary
Eye movements are often separated into fixations, the periods when the eyes stay rather still, and saccades, the rapid eye movements between multiple fixations. Humans are not aware of them, but they play an important role in visual perception Amongst other aspects, they indicate covert attention (Engbert & Kliegl, 2003b). Malinov et al (2000) detected only two eye movements as microsaccades out of 3375 saccades using a value of 0.2° as maximum amplitude.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
