Working memory load modulates microsaccadic rate
Working memory load modulates microsaccadic rate
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DOI：
10.1167/17.3.6
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发表时间：
2017-03-01
影响因子：
1.8
通讯作者：
Galfano, Giovanni
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Dalmaso, Mario;Castelli, Luigi;Galfano, Giovanni
微扫视是个体在注视过程中无意识地进行的微小眼球运动。尽管微眼跳的性质和功能仍然存在激烈的争论，但最近的证据表明，这些微眼球运动和更高级别的认知过程之间存在关联。在这里，在两个实验中，我们特别关注工作记忆，并讨论了差异记忆负荷是否可以反映在微眼跳动力学的调制中。在实验1中，参与者记住了一个由两位数字(低负荷条件)或五位数字(高负荷条件)组成的数字序列，该序列出现在注视时。结果表明，与低负荷条件相比，高负荷条件下的微跳动发生率降低。在实验2中，注视时总是出现五个红色或绿色的手指。参与者要么记住了颜色(低负荷条件)，要么记住了五位数字(高负荷条件)。因此，在两种情况下，视觉刺激是完全相同的。与实验1一致的是，高负荷状态下的微扫视发生率低于低负荷状态。总体而言，这些发现揭示了工作记忆的参与可以对微扫视的发生率产生影响，这与微眼跳的产生是自上而下的过程相一致的观点是一致的。
Microsaccades are tiny eye movements that individuals perform unconsciously during fixation. Despite that the nature and the functions of microsaccades are still lively debated, recent evidence has shown an association between these micro eye movements and higher order cognitive processes. Here, in two experiments, we specifically focused on working memory and addressed whether differential memory load could be reflected in a modulation of microsaccade dynamics. In Experiment 1, participants memorized a numerical sequence composed of either two (low-load condition) or five digits (highload condition), appearing at fixation. The results showed a reduction in the microsaccadic rate in the highload compared to the low-load condition. In Experiment 2, five red or green digits were always presented at fixation. Participants either memorized the color (lowload condition) or the five digits (high-load condition). Hence, visual stimuli were exactly the same in both conditions. Consistent with Experiment 1, microsaccadic rate was lower in the high-load than in the low-load condition. Overall, these findings reveal that an engagement of working memory can have an impact on microsaccadic rate, consistent with the view that microsaccade generation is pervious to top-down processes.