Inter-individual differences of eye movements during sensorimotor tasks

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In order to learn and execute a sensorimotor sequence such as tying shoe laces, it is essential to extract and process action-relevant visual information (laces) in high visual detail. For that reason we move our eyes about three times a second by means of so-called saccades in order to bring the task-relevant information onto the fovea – the area with highest visual resolution on the retina. The planned research project shall identify how eye movements in a sensorimotor sequence differ between individuals and how these differences are related to sensorimotor performance as well as basic cognitive processes. Although it is known that inter-individual variation exists in most tasks, it is usually not analyzed within the scope of experimental psychology. However, understanding this individual variation can enhance the understanding of general processes. The relation between different cognitive processes can, for instance, be revealed by a correlation of their inter-individual variation. In addition, understanding how inter-individual differences are related to task performance can reveal which process characteristics are beneficial. Prior studies revealed that humans show stable inter-individual differences in their eye movements in perceptual tasks, for instance, in their fixation duration, fixation rate, and saccade amplitude during visual search or picture viewing. However, it has not been studied whether these or other person-specific eye movement parameters emerge also during sensorimotor tasks and how they contribute to the acquisition and execution of sensorimotor sequences. Moreover, it is unknown whether there are also inter-individual differences in the eye-hand coordination and how these might be connected to the individual eye movement patterns. Preliminary data points to inter-individual differences in eye movements in sensorimotor sequences. The planned project has three goals: 1. Inter-individual differences in eye movements and eye-hand coordination during sensorimotor tasks shall be identified and their relation to basic cognitive processes such as attention, working memory, and intelligence shall be investigated. 2. The stability of the identified individual eye movement parameters shall be investigated. 3. The effects of the eye movement parameters on sensorimotor performance shall be investigated. Therefore, the relation between the eye movement parameters and the acquisition and execution of sensorimotor sequences will be considered on the one hand. On the other hand, the eye movement pattern shall be manipulated by instruction and feedback in order to get more solid insights about causation. The insights about eye movement parameters in sensorimotor tasks can also be useful for fields of application such as rehabilitation or ergonomics.