Saccade Amplitude Research Articles

Reading comics: The effect of expertise on eye movements

The theory of expertise suggests that there should be observable differences in the eye movement patterns between experts and non-experts. Previous studies have investigated how expertise influences eye movement patterns during cognitive tasks like reading. However, the impact of expertise on eye movements in comics, a multimodal form of text, remains unexplored. This article reports on a study that uses eye tracking to examine patterns in the ways that experts and non-experts read comics. Expert participants (14) with experience in reading comics than non-expert participants (17). When controlling for variables such as layout and text quantity, we found significant differences in visual scanning between experts and non-experts. Experts exhibited more frequent saccades and greater amplitude of saccades. Further analysis revealed distinct strategies in processing text and image content between the two groups: the interaction between expertise level and content type in specific AOI showed significant differences across multiple visual measurement metrics, including Average duration of fixations, number of fixations, and number of saccades within AOI. These findings not only support the applicability of the expertise level theory in the field of comic reading but also provide a new perspective for understanding the reading processing of multimodal texts.

Eye Movement Patterns in Russian-Speaking Adolescents with Differing Reading Comprehension Proficiency: Exploratory Scanpath Analysis

Previous research has indicated that individuals with varying levels of reading comprehension (often used as a proxy for general cognitive ability) employ distinct reading eye movement patterns. This exploratory eye-tracking study aimed to investigate the text-reading process in adolescents with differing reading comprehension, specifically examining how these differences manifest at the global eye movement level through scanpath analysis. Our findings revealed two distinct groups of scanpaths characterized by statistically significant differences in eye movement parameters. These groups were identified as “fast readers” and “slow readers”. Both groups exhibited similar oculomotor performance during the initial reading. However, significant differences emerged when they reread and revisited the text. Notably, these findings align with prior research conducted with different samples and languages, although discrepancies emerged in saccade amplitude and first-pass reading behavior. This study contributes to the understanding of how reading comprehension levels are reflected in global eye movement strategies among adolescents. However, limitations inherent in the experimental design, particularly the potential influence of the task on reading patterns, warrant further investigation. Future research should aim to explore these phenomena in more naturalistic reading settings, employing a design specifically tailored to capture the nuances of spontaneous reading behavior.

Effect of Stimulus Regularities on Eye Movement Characteristics

Humans have the unique ability to discern spatial and temporal regularities in their surroundings. However, the effect of learning these regularities on eye movement characteristics has not been studied enough. In the present study, we investigated the effect of the frequency of occurrence and the presence of common chunks in visual images on eye movement characteristics like the fixation duration, saccade amplitude and number, and gaze number across sequential experimental epochs. The participants had to discriminate the patterns presented in pairs as the same or different. The order of pairs was repeated six times. Our results show an increase in fixation duration and a decrease in saccade amplitude in the sequential epochs, suggesting a transition from ambient to focal information processing as participants acquire knowledge. This transition indicates deeper cognitive engagement and extended analysis of the stimulus information. Interestingly, contrary to our expectations, the saccade number increased, and the gaze number decreased. These unexpected results might imply a reduction in the memory load and a narrowing of attentional focus when the relevant stimulus characteristics are already determined.

When noise becomes signal: a study of blink rate using an eye tracker

PurposeAlthough blink rate is considered important for digital eye strain and dry eye conditions, its assessment has been mostly manual. This study aimed at quantifying blink rate automatically using the Eyelink 1000 Plus eye tracker and comparing it with manual counting. Additionally, blink rate was correlated with reading eye movements and reading speed. MethodsThirty participants (mean age 26.8±3.5 years; 19 females) were enrolled. An on-screen reading task for 3 minutes duration, was repeated 3 times with a 2-minute break between the repetitions. During this task, eye movements and blinks were measured through the Eyelink 1000 Plus eye tracker. The blink was also counted manually by the examiner in real time from a video feed. ResultsThe blink rate obtained by the eye tracker (median [Q1, Q3]:11.7 [6.8,15.5] blinks/min) and manual counting (11.6 [7.1, 15.4] blinks/min) were comparable (p>0.5). No significant correlations were observed between the blink rate and any of the reading eye movement parameters except saccadic amplitude (Spearman's rho, rs =0.506). No statistically significant correlation was found between the blink rate and reading speed. ConclusionThe Eyelink 1000 Plus eye tracker gives a comparable blink rate compared to that obtained through manual counting. A positive correlation between the blink rate and saccade amplitude could indicate a coupled interaction between the two mechanisms to minimize visual loss during reading. The option of using this tracker to investigate blinks in dry eye and binocular vision disorders can be further explored.

The association between eye movement characteristics and cognitive function in adolescents with major depressive disorder

ObjectiveThis study aims to explore the relationship between eye movement characteristics and cognitive function in adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD). MethodEyeLink 1000 eye tracker was used to obtain eye movement data in free-viewing and smooth pursuit tasks. Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney test were used for inter-group comparison of demographic and clinical data. Spearman correlation was used to analyze the correlation between eye movement characteristics and cognitive function. ResultsAdolescents with MDD showed lower saccade amplitude in the free-viewing task and more fixations and saccades in the smooth pursuit task. In the free-viewing task, fixation count, saccade duration and saccade speed were found to be positively correlated with immediate memory and attention; fixation duration was negatively correlated with immediate memory. In the smooth pursuit task, saccade count was positively correlated with the faux pas test; fixation duration and saccade duration were significantly correlated with memory and attention. ConclusionAdolescents with MDD showed abnormalities in several indices of eye movement, and altered eye movement variables were also correlated with cognitive deficits. Eye-tracking technology helps illustrate the diverse cognitive strategies employed by individuals during cognitive tasks, allowing researchers to explore subtle differences in cognitive processes.

The timing of vision in basketball three-point shots.

The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between gaze behaviour, motor responses and the direction of visual attention when different levels of basketball players were engaged in a basketball three-point shot. Twelve near-experts and 12 amateur basketball players, wearing an eye tracker and an inertial sensor, performed 20 shots on a basketball field, receiving the ball from a teammate, who then acted as the opponent. The trial sequence was subdivided into catching, aiming and ball flight phases. The analysis demonstrated that near-experts exhibited longer fixation durations and saccades of lower amplitude and peak velocity than amateurs. The gaze behaviour showed that all players utilized fixations during the last part of the catching phase, during most of the aiming phase, and during the final part of the ball flight phase. The greatest number of saccades was exhibited between the aiming and the ball flight phases, when the ball was released by the players. Saccades were oriented toward the teammate during the catching phase. Instead, during the aiming and ball flight phases, saccade orientations were not polarized toward a specific visual cue. In conclusion, vision plays a critical role in every aspect of the three-point shot in basketball, from catching the ball, to aiming preparation, and shot execution. It is a key factor in decision-making, spatial awareness, and overall performance in team sports.

Visual symptoms in postural tachycardia syndrome: An investigation of position-dependent visual exploration.

Patients with postural tachycardia syndrome report position-dependent visual symptoms. Despite their impact on daily life, these symptoms have remained largely unexplored in research. The aim of this study was to investigate the nature of visual symptoms in postural tachycardia syndrome and possible underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Fifteen patients with postural tachycardia syndrome and 15 healthy controls were included in the study. Through a comprehensive array of measurements, including haemodynamics, subjective symptom assessments, eye movement tracking and pupil diameter analysis, participants were assessed during free image exploration in both supine and 60° head-up tilt positions. During head-up tilt, patients showed a decreased number and duration of fixations, as well as a decreased number, peak velocity and amplitude of saccades compared to the supine position and the control group. This reduction in visual exploration occurred primarily in the peripheral field of view and coincided with the occurrence of subjective visual symptoms. No significant differences in the saccade main sequence were observed between the two groups in either body position. Patients with postural tachycardia syndrome have a reduced exploration of the peripheral field of view when in an upright body position, potentially leading to tunnel vision. Since the normality of the saccade main sequence in patients combined with the focus on the centre of the field of view and the lower saccade amplitudes points to an intact brainstem function, the decrease in peripheral visual exploration may be attributed to a position-dependent dysfunction of the frontal eye field.

Video head impulse gain is impaired in myotonic dystrophy types 1 and 2.

This study was undertaken to examine vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) characteristics in myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) and type 2 (DM2) using video head impulse testing (vHIT). VOR gain, refixation saccade prevalence, first saccade amplitude, onset latency, peak velocity, and duration were compared in DM1, DM2, age-matched normal controls, and patients with peripheral and central vestibulopathies. Fifty percent of DM1 and 37.5% of DM2 patients demonstrated reduced VOR gain. Refixation saccade prevalence for horizontal canal (HC) and posterior canal (PC) was significantly higher in DM1 (101 ± 42%, 82 ± 47%) and DM2 (70 ± 45%, 61 ± 38%) compared to controls (40 ± 28% and 43 ± 33%, p < 0.05). The first saccade amplitudes and peak velocities were higher in HC and PC planes in DM1 and DM2 compared to controls (p < 0.05). HC slow phase eye velocity profiles in DM1 showed delayed peaks. The asymmetry ratio, which represents the percentage difference between the first and second halves of the slow phase eye velocity response, was therefore negative (-22.5 ± 17%, -2.3 ± 16%, and - 4.7 ± 8% in DM1, DM2, and controls). HC VOR gains were lower and gain asymmetry ratio was larger and negative in patients with DM1 with moderate to severe ptosis and a history of imbalance and falls compared to the remaining DM1 patients (p < 0.05). In peripheral vestibulopathies, saccade amplitude was larger, peak velocity was higher, and onset latency was shorter (p < 0.05) than in DM1. In central vestibulopathy (posterior circulation strokes), saccade peak velocity was higher, but amplitude and onset latency were not significantly different from DM1. VOR impairment is common in DM1 and DM2. In DM1, refixation saccade characteristics are closer to central than peripheral vestibulopathies. Delayed peaks in the vHIT eye velocity profile observed in patients with DM1 may reflect extraocular muscle weakness. VOR impairment and VOR asymmetry in DM1 are associated with imbalance and falls.

Naturalistic Eye Movement Tasks in Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review.

Eye tracking assessments in the laboratory have previously highlighted clear differences in eye movements between Parkinson's disease (PD) and healthy aging. However, laboratory-based eye movement tasks are artificial and limit the ecological validity of observed results. Eye movement tasks utilizing more naturalistic scenarios may provide more accurate insight into cognitive function but research in this area is limited. This systematic review aims to ascertain what naturalistic tasks have revealed about oculomotor deficits in PD and what this information may help us understand about the underlying sensorimotor and cognitive processes. Adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement, a literature search of PsycInfo, Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted using predetermined search terms. Articles including both individuals with PD and healthy older adults completing eye tracking tasks involving naturalistic eye movements (e.g., reading, video-watching, unrestricted visual search) or naturalistic stimuli were included. After screening, 30 studies were identified as matching the inclusion criteria. Results revealed consistent findings across tasks, including longer fixation durations and smaller saccadic amplitudes in PD compared to healthy aging. However, inconsistencies in the literature and a lack of standardization in tasks limit interpretation of these results. Naturalistic eye movement tasks highlight some consistent differences in eye movements between people with PD and healthy aging. However, future research should expand the current literature in this area and strive towards standardization of naturalistic tasks that can preferably be conducted remotely.

Assessing inter-ocular fixational eye movements throughout the lifespan.

This study aims to assess fixational eye movements (FEMs) obtained under binocular and monocular viewing in normal individuals across different age groups. We recruited 68 healthy participants divided into Group 1 (children, 3-9 years, n = 20), Group 2 (adolescents, 10-19 years, n = 26), and Group 3 (adults, 20-73 years, n = 22). FEMs were collected using a high-resolution video-based tracker under 3 viewing conditions: binocular viewing (BV), monocular viewing right eye (MV_RE), and monocular viewing left eye (MV_LE). We quantified fixation stability, the frequency, amplitude, and disconjugacy of fixational saccades, and inter-saccadic drift velocity in BV, MV_RE, and MV_LE. We also computed inter-ocular fixation stability under binocular viewing and monocular viewing in the 3 groups. Fixation instability (FI) and fixational saccade amplitudes were higher in Group 1 than in Group 3 whereas inter-saccadic drifts were increased in Group 3. Vergence stability was greater in binocular viewing than in monocular viewing likely due to binocular summation in all groups. However, the fixational saccade amplitude and drift velocity of the right and left eye did not significantly differ across different viewing conditions within each group. Interestingly, the inter-ocular fixation stability ratio and vergence stability showed no significant differences between the groups. In conclusion, FEMs differ across age groups but inter-ocular FEMs are immune to the effects of age and can be a valuable parameter while evaluating FEM abnormalities in diseases like amblyopia.

The effects of the traffic signs information volume on the visual characteristics and workload of novice and experienced drivers.

The effects of traffic sign information volume (TSIV) on the visual characteristics and workload of novice and experienced drivers were investigated in this study. TSIV plays a crucial role in road traffic safety, and understanding its impact on drivers is essential for designing effective traffic sign systems. This research aimed to compare the visual characteristics and workload of novice and experienced drivers under varying TSIV doses through simulated driving tests. The objective was to provide insights for optimizing the design of road TSIV. Six TSIV levels were considered: S0, S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5, representing different workload levels. Participants, including both novice and experienced drivers, were involved in simulated driving scenarios with varying TSIV levels. Eye movement data was collected using an eye tracker device. The study was conducted in China, and appropriate driving simulators and equipment were utilized. The findings revealed several valuable results. Experienced drivers exhibited a higher proportion of saccade behavior in the 30-90 ms time period and did not show rapid saccade behavior during the 0-30 ms period, indicating superior visual search strategies. Both novice and experienced drivers demonstrated improved visual cognitive abilities at the S3 level of TSIV, which corresponds to normal and safe driving conditions. Furthermore, a majority of both groups had saccade amplitudes in the range of 0°-4°, with experienced drivers showing a slightly higher proportion. About 82% of experienced drivers had saccade behavior within the range of 0°-2°, compared to 75% of novice drivers. The study concludes that the S3 level of TSIV, corresponding to 30 bits/km, is optimal for both novice and experienced drivers. This level promotes better visual performance and reduces visual workload, indicating that drivers' information acquisition capacity and visual search strategies are maximized while keeping the workload associated with driving at a minimum. These findings have significant implications for enhancing driving safety.

Role of the video head impulse test in the evaluation of vestibulo-ocular reflex in individuals with Parkinson's disease.

<p>Parkinson&rsquo;s disease (PD) is the most common movement disorder and the second most common neu&shy;rodegenerative disease of the central ner&shy;vous system. Dizziness is frequently reported by PD patients, yet there is a paucity of research focusing on the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) in this population using high-frequency vestibular testing. This study aims to investigate the VOR in individuals with PD using the video head thrust test with and without suppression.&nbsp;</p>. <p>Forty individuals with PD and 40 healthy individuals were included in the study. According to the Hoehn-Yahr Scale, individuals with PD were defined as early stage with a score of 1&ndash;2.5 and middle to late stage with a score of 3 to 5. The Head Impulse Testing Paradigm (HIMP) and Suppression Head Impulse Testing Paradigm (SHIMP) were applied to all individuals.</p>. <p>No statistically significant difference was observed between the PD group and the control group in terms of semicircular canal (SCC) gains in both HIMP and SHIMP tests. No catch-up saccades were observed in the right anterior, right posterior, left anterior, and left posterior SCC planes in the PD and control groups. However, in the right lateral SCC plane 32 patients in the PD group had saccades, while 8 patients in the control group had saccades. In the left lateral SCC plane, 32 patients in the PD group and 9 patients in the control group had catch-up saccades. A statistically significant difference was observed in the number and amplitude of saccades in the right and left lateral SCC planes compared to the control group (p&lt;0.05). In addition, in the PD group, the amplitude, peak velocity, and latency of the anticompensatory saccades seen in SHIMP showed a statistically significant difference compared to the control group (p&lt;0.05).</p>. <p>VOR in the vertical SCC plane was not affected in individuals with PD. However, VOR in the lateral SCC plane was affected. It was concluded that when evaluating VOR with both HIMP and SHIMP in individuals with PD, the presence of catch-up saccades should be focused on and evaluated for possible vestibular dysfunction, even though SCC gains are normal. This study will contribute to a deeper understanding of vestibular function in PD, potentially informing better management strategies for dizziness in this population.&nbsp;</p>.

Using eye tracking to assess learning of a multifunction prosthetic hand: an exploratory study from a rehabilitation perspective

BackgroundEye tracking technology not only reveals the acquisition of visual information at fixation but also has the potential to unveil underlying cognitive processes involved in learning to use a multifunction prosthetic hand. It also reveals gaze behaviours observed during standardized tasks and self-chosen tasks. The aim of the study was to explore the use of eye tracking to track learning progress of multifunction hands at two different time points in prosthetic rehabilitation.MethodsThree amputees received control training of a multifunction hand with new control strategy. Detailed description of control training was collected first. They wore Tobii Pro2 eye-tracking glasses and performed a set of standardized tasks (required to switch to different grips for each task) after one day of training and at one-year-follow-up (missing data for Subject 3 at the follow up due to socket problem). They also performed a self-chosen task (free to use any grip for any object) and were instructed to perform the task in a way how they would normally do at home. The gaze-overlaid videos were analysed using the Tobii Pro Lab and the following metrics were extracted: fixation duration, saccade amplitude, eye-hand latency, fixation count and time to first fixation.ResultsDuring control training, the subjects learned 3 to 4 grips. Some grips were easier, and others were more difficult because they forgot or were confused with the switching strategies. At the one-year-follow-up, a decrease in performance time, fixation duration, eye-hand latency, and fixation count was observed in Subject 1 and 2, indicating an improvement in the ability to control the multifunction hand and a reduction of cognitive load. An increase in saccade amplitude was observed in both subjects, suggesting a decrease in difficulty to control the prosthetic hand. During the standardized tasks, the first fixation of all three subjects were on the multifunction hand in all objects. During the self-chosen tasks, the first fixations were mostly on the objects first.ConclusionThe qualitative data from control training and the quantitative eye tracking data from clinical standardized tasks provided a rich exploration of cognitive processing in learning to control a multifunction hand. Many prosthesis users prefer multifunction hands and with this study we have demonstrated that a targeted prosthetic training protocol with reliable assessment methods will help to lay the foundation for measuring functional benefits of multifunction hands.

Evaluation of Cognitive Load Differences between Elderly and Young Pedestrians at the Signalised Intersection

The pedestrian cognitive load has an important effect on the pedestrian crossing decision making. Compared with young adults, old people are characterised by declining physical function and slower reaction ability, which makes them prone to traffic accidents when crossing the street. This study aims to compare the visual information-mental load correlation between elderly and young adults waiting at the signalised intersections and evaluate their cognitive load conditions. Therefore, two signalised intersections with different traffic scenes in the Nan’an District, Chongqing, China were selected. The eye-tracking, electrocardiographic and electrodermal activity data of young and old pedestrians were collected using eye-tracking and physiological instruments. The visual indexes (the total duration of fixations, the number of fixations, the average pupil diameter changing rate, the number of saccades, the average peak speed of saccades, the average amplitude of saccades and the total amplitude of saccades) and physiological indicators (the average growth rate of heart rate, the time-domain analysis indicator of HRV and HRV frequency domain analysis indicators, electrodermal response amplitude and rise time of the EDR amp.) were taken as inputs and outputs parameters, respectively. Then, the comprehensive cognitive load evaluation model for pedestrians was constructed when waiting to cross the street based on the data envelopment analysis method. And the cognitive load characteristic differences between the young adults and the elderly were compared. The results show that in the same crossing scene, compared with the young pedestrian, the elder pedestrian exhibited lower overall perceptual efficiency, lower fixation durations and higher cognitive loads. These results can provide certain references on improving the street crossing safety for the elderly pedestrian.

Analysis of head and eye dynamic may explain saccades in dizzy patients with normal VOR gain

ObjectiveCompare the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gain, compensatory saccades and head and eye coordination during head impulses between patients with dizziness but normal VOR gain and healthy controls. MethodsVideo head impulses test (vHIT; ICS impulse, Otometrics, Denmark) was reviewed in 40 participants (20 patients with dizziness; 20 controls). VOR gain, saccades characteristics (frequency of occurrence, amplitude, latency) and time difference between head and eye velocity was compared. ResultsNo significant difference between groups was observed for VOR gain. However, saccade frequency was greater and time difference between head and eye was prolonged in patients with dizziness. No significant difference was observed for saccade amplitude, nor for saccade latency between groups. ConclusionsThe present study highlights that saccades observed in patients with normal VOR gain could reflect a clinical marker for dizziness in patients with normal VOR gain. We propose that theses saccades are caused by a prolonged time delay between head and eye velocity leading to a gaze position error. SignificanceThe results support previous findings suggesting additional value of saccades and time delay when interpreting vHIT results. This study goes further by proposing time delay as a possible mechanism to explain increased saccade frequency in dizzy patients with normal VOR gain.

Effects of different audiovisual landscapes in bamboo forest space on physical and mental restorative potential of university students: based on eye-tracking experiments

With its unique audiovisual environment, bamboo forest spaces serve as natural sanctuaries for urban residents, offering significant restorative effects by reducing physical and mental stress and alleviating fatigue. This promotes the vigorous development of outdoor recreation activities. To further explore the restorative effects of bamboo forest space on people's audiovisual perceptual aspects. In this study, we conducted field research in the Southern Sichuan Bamboo Sea, collecting audiovisual materials from four types of bamboo forest spaces: pathway type, cultural type, ornamental type, and recreational. These spatial photographs were combined with three types of soundscapes (silent, background, and background + wind-blown bamboo sound). Eye tracking experiments were utilized to investigate the physical and mental restorative effects of these different audiovisual features on college students. The results showed that in the visual aspect, the visual restorative properties of recreational-type and ornamental-type bamboo spaces were better than those of pathway type and cultural-type spaces; in the auditory aspect, the sounds of wind-blown bamboo, flowing water, and chirping birds in the bamboo forest significantly enhanced the subjective restorative properties of the bamboo forest space, reducing the number of fixations and the average pupil diameter. In addition, this paper found that the soundscape guided people's visual attention, with the wind-blown bamboo sound increasing focus on natural elements, and the extensibility of the bamboo forest space was positively correlated with the number of fixations, while fascination was negatively correlated with the average saccade amplitude. These findings provide insights for the optimized design of audiovisual restorative environments in bamboo forest space in the future.

No such thing as the female eye: ditching gender-binary categories in art perception

ABSTRACT We still know little about whether and how gender informs, shapes, or influences art perception. This multidisciplinary article investigates the role that gender might play in the perception of art through historical analyses and an eye-tracking experiment. We first traced how gender identity, sexual identity, and sexual orientation have been used to theorize the existence of a gender-binary difference between viewers in traditional aesthetics and feminist art theory. To test whether such claims reflect any measurable experience, we collected eye-tracking data from 84 participants and divided them into two groups of cisgender, heterosexual individuals by self-definition. Each group participated in two experiments; the first showed digital reproductions of mixed artworks, varying in subject, style, form, and size; the second showed artworks with only one figure, either explicitly showing sex-linked traits or not. In both cases, we measured the number of fixations, average fixation duration, and saccade amplitude as well as differences in the location of fixations and entropy. Our analysis did not detect any significant difference between the groups. This proves empirically, for the first time, that in spite of having been often reiterated in history, gender binary categories are not suitable for describing the visual perception of art.

Saccades and Microsaccades Coupling During Free-Throw Shots in Basketball Players.

We investigated the role of saccades and microsaccades when different levels of basketball players were engaged in an ecological free-throw condition. All participants made more correct than incorrect shoots, with a movement time initiation shorter in amateurs than in near-expert groups. Near-experts had more stable gaze fixation than amateurs, with higher microsaccade rate and duration and lower peak velocity. Amateurs showed higher saccade rate, peak velocity, and amplitude than near-experts. The temporal sequence of near-experts' microsaccade rate increased after the saccade peak; on the contrary, in amateurs, the saccade peak is shown after the decrement in microsaccade rates. The spatiotemporal characteristics of microsaccades and saccades may reflect an optimal sampling method by which the brain discretely acquires visual information and can differentiate between participants who use a fixation before the critical movement time and participants who move their eyes to catch more visual cues to make decisions.

Determining the Perception Created by Health Warnings on Plain Cigarette Packs with Visual Attention: Eye-Tracking Technique

This study examines the effects of the plain packaging policy implemented in Türkiye, analyzing how different demographic groups perceive health warnings on cigarette packaging. Employing advanced eye-tracking technology, the research identifies distinct visual attention patterns between smokers and non-smokers when exposed to ‘Anxiety’ and ‘Disturbing’ visual cues. Detailed metrics, including fixation counts, durations, and saccade amplitudes, are used to measure and analyze the responses of these groups to the health warnings. The findings reveal that non-smokers significantly focus more on textual warnings, suggesting that text-based elements are more impactful for this group. Conversely, smokers tend to either avoid or become desensitized to disturbing imagery. Additionally, the study finds that female participants exhibit higher saccade amplitudes compared to males, indicating a more thorough examination of the packaging. This gender-specific difference is especially pronounced in their responses to ‘Disturbing’ images, where females show greater engagement, pointing to an increased sensitivity to such stimuli. These insights not only advance our understanding of effective health communication but also underscore the importance of designing public health interventions that cater to the unique responses of different demographic groups. This research significantly enriches the field of tobacco control, providing evidence-based strategies to enhance the effectiveness of visual warnings, thereby supporting targeted smoking cessation efforts.

Oculometric biomarkers of visuomotor deficits in clinically asymptomatic patients with systemic lupus erythematosus undergoing long-term hydroxychloroquine treatment.

This study examines a set of oculomotor measurements, or "oculometric" biomarkers, as potential early indicators of visual and visuomotor deficits due to retinal toxicity in asymptomatic Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) patients on long-term hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) treatment. The aim is to identify subclinical functional impairments that are otherwise undetectable by standard clinical tests and to link them to structural retinal changes. We measured oculomotor responses in a cohort of SLE patients on chronic HCQ therapy using a previously established behavioral task and analysis technique. We also examined the relationship between oculometrics, OCT measures of retinal thickness, and standard clinical perimetry measures of visual function in our patient group using Bivariate Pearson Correlation and a Linear Mixed-Effects Model (LMM). Significant visual and visuomotor deficits were found in 12 asymptomatic SLE patients on long-term HCQ therapy compared to a cohort of 17 age-matched healthy controls. Notably, six oculometrics were significantly different. The median initial pursuit acceleration was 22%, steady-state pursuit gain 16%, proportion smooth 7%, and target speed responsiveness 31% lower, while catch-up saccade amplitude was 46% and fixation error 46% larger. Excluding the two patients with diagnosed mild toxicity, four oculometrics, all but fixation error and proportion smooth, remained significantly impaired compared to controls. Across our population of 12 patients (24 retinae), we found that pursuit latency, initial acceleration, steady-state gain, and fixation error were linearly related to retinal thickness even when age was accounted for, while standard measures of clinical function (Mean Deviation and Pattern Standard Deviation) were not. Our data show that specific oculometrics are sensitive early biomarkers of functional deficits in SLE patients on HCQ that could be harnessed to assist in the early detection of HCQ-induced retinal toxicity and other visual pathologies, potentially providing early diagnostic value beyond standard visual field and OCT evaluations.