Visual Center Biasing in a Stimulus-Free Laboratory Setting

Abstract

Looking at nothing has recently become of particular interest as it may reveal insights into the nature of spatial cognition in terms of integrated mental representations from visual and auditory input. The current study applies individual time sensitive and emotional ideas to quantify visuo-spatial biases in a stimulus-free laboratory setting. We observe a strong visual bias across all experimental conditions supporting earlier assumptions of a screen center or motor bias. The tendency towards the center was particular evident during trials that lack any specific assignment. A time-sensitive differentiation of eye movements with regards to memory and anticipation tasks could not be recorded. Also, pupil diameter indicated no relationship between changes in bodily arousal and spontaneous fixation behavior. In addition, we replicate a strong left side gaze asymmetry that is interwoven with the center bias featuring spontaneous fixations to mainly cluster left from the screen center.