It is well known that attention is captured by salient objects or events. The notion that attention is attracted by salience information present in the visual field is also at the heart of many influential models of attention. These models typically posit a hierarchy of saliency, suggesting that attention progresses from the most to the least salient item in the visual field. However, despite the significance of this claim in various models, research on eye movements challenges the idea that search strictly follows this saliency hierarchy. Instead, eye-tracking studies have suggested that saliency information has a transient impact, only influencing the initial saccade toward the most salient object, and only if executed swiftly after display onset. While these findings on overt eye movements are important, they do not address covert attentional processes occurring before a saccade is initiated. In the current series of experiments, we explored whether there was evidence for secondary capture-whether attention could be captured by another salient item after the initial capture episode. To explore this, we utilized displays with multiple distractors of varying levels of saliency. Our primary question was whether two distractors with different saliency levels would disrupt search more than a single, highly salient distractor. Across three experiments, clear evidence emerged indicating that two distractors interfered more with search than a single salient distractor. This observation suggests that following initial capture, secondary capture by the next most salient distractor occurred. These findings collectively support the idea that covert attention traverses the saliency hierarchy. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Negative templates are based on foreknowledge of distractor features and can lead to more efficient visual search at the group level. However, large individual differences exist in the size of benefits induced by negative cues. The cognitive factors underlying these interindividual differences remain unknown. Previous research has suggested higher engagement of proactive control for negative templates compared to positive templates. We thus hypothesized that interindividual differences in proactive control efficiency may explain the large variability in negative cue benefits. A large data set made up of data from two previously published studies was reanalyzed (N = 139), with eye movements recorded in 36 participants. Individual proactive control efficiency was measured through reaction time (RT) variability. Participants with higher proactive control efficiency exhibited larger benefits after negative cues across two critical measures: Individuals with higher proactive control showed larger RT benefits following negative compared to neutral cues; similarly, individuals with higher proactive control exhibited lower first saccades to cued distractor items. No such relationship was observed for positive cues. Our results confirmed the existence of large interindividual differences in the benefits induced by negative attentional templates. Critically, we show that proactive control drives these interindividual differences in negative template use. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

People regularly read multi-line texts in different formats and publishers, internationally, must decide how to present text to make reading most effective and efficient. Relatively few studies have examined multi-line reading, and fewer still Chinese multi-line reading. Here, we examined whether texts presented in single or double columns, and either left-justified or fully-justified affect Chinese reading. Text format had minimal influence on overall reading time; however, it significantly impacted return-sweeps (large saccades moving the eyes from the end of one line of text to the beginning of the next). Return-sweeps were launched and landed further away from margins and involved more corrective saccades in single- than double-column format. For left- compared to fully-justified format, return-sweeps were launched and landed closer to margins. More corrective saccades also occurred. Our results showed more efficient return-sweep behavior for fully- than left-justified text. Moreover, there were clear trade-off effects such that formats requiring increased numbers of shorter return-sweeps produced more accurate targeting and reduced numbers of corrective fixations, whereas formats requiring reduced numbers of longer return-sweeps caused less accurate targeting and an increased rate of corrective fixations. Overall, our results demonstrate that text formats substantially affect return-sweep eye movement behavior during Chinese reading without affecting efficiency and effectiveness, that is, the overall time it takes to read and understand the text.

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder characterized by significant cognitive and neurobiological alterations. Impairments in cognitive function and eye movement have been known to be promising biomarkers for schizophrenia. However, cognitive assessment methods require specialized expertise. To date, data on simplified measurement tools for assessing both cognitive function and eye movement in patients with schizophrenia are lacking.
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the efficacy of a novel tablet-based platform combining cognitive and eye movement measures for classifying schizophrenia.
METHODS: Forty-four patients with schizophrenia, 67 healthy controls, and 41 patients with other psychiatric diagnoses participated in this study from 10 sites across Japan. A free-viewing eye movement task and 2 cognitive assessment tools (Codebreaker task from the THINC-integrated tool and the CognitiveFunctionTest app) were used for conducting assessments in a 12.9-inch iPad Pro. We performed comparative group and logistic regression analyses for evaluating the diagnostic efficacy of the 3 measures of interest.
RESULTS: Cognitive and eye movement measures differed significantly between patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls (all 3 measures; P<.001). The Codebreaker task showed the highest classification effectiveness in distinguishing schizophrenia with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.90. Combining cognitive and eye movement measures further improved accuracy with a maximum area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.94. Cognitive measures were more effective in differentiating patients with schizophrenia from healthy controls, whereas eye movement measures better differentiated schizophrenia from other psychiatric conditions.
CONCLUSIONS: This multisite study demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of a tablet-based app for assessing cognitive functioning and eye movements in patients with schizophrenia. Our results suggest the potential of tablet-based assessments of cognitive function and eye movement as simple and accessible evaluation tools, which may be useful for future clinical implementation.

BACKGROUND: The use of Rhesus macaques in vision research is crucial due to their visual system\'s similarity to humans. While invasive techniques have been the norm, there has been a shift towards non-invasive methods, such as facemasks and head molds, to enhance animal welfare and address ethical concerns.
METHODS: We present a non-invasive, 3D-printed chinrest with infrared sensors, adapted from canine research, allowing for accurate eye movement measurements and voluntary animal participation in experiments.
RESULTS: The chinrest method showed a 16% and 28% increase in average trial numbers for Monkey 1 and Monkey 2, respectively, compared to the traditional headpost method. The engagement was high, with monkeys performing over 500 trials per session and initiating a new trial after an average intertrial interval of approximately 1 second. The hit rate improved by about 10% for Monkey 1 in the chinrest condition, and the fixation precision, measured by the standard deviation of gaze positions, was significantly better in the chinrest condition, with Monkey 1 showing a reduction in fixation imprecision from 0.26° to 0.17° in the X-axis.
METHODS: The chinrest approach showed significant improvements in trial engagement and reduction in aborted trials due to fixation breaks, indicating less stress and potentially improved data quality compared to previous non-invasive methods.
CONCLUSIONS: The chinrest method offers a significant advancement in primate cognitive testing by allowing for precise data collection while addressing animal welfare concerns, possibly leading to better scientific outcomes and a paradigm shift in primate research methodologies.

Research on first language (L1) reading has long since established the link between the proficiency of the reader and their efficiency in oculomotor control. More proficient readers make longer saccades and land closer to the word\'s center, which is a word\'s optimal viewing position, and make fewer refixations. Eye-tracking studies of second language (L2) reading have so far provided little evidence in this regard. This study analyzes spatial oculomotor measures in the Multilingual Eye-movement Corpus, which contains data on English text reading and its component skills from 543 participants representing 12 different L1s. Our analyses establish a strong role of proficiency in English, both for L1 and L2 readers of English. While most effects replicated ones observed in L1 reading, we also found that more proficient readers of English were less accurate in targeting optimal viewing positions. We link this finding to Fitts\' law of motor control for aimed movements. This article discusses the theoretical implications of the novel findings for reading research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Shaking hands is a fundamental form of social interaction. The current study used high-definition cameras during a university graduation ceremony to examine the temporal sequencing of eye contact and shaking hands. Analyses revealed that mutual gaze always preceded shaking hands. A follow up investigation manipulated gaze when shaking hands, and found that participants take significantly longer to accept a handshake when an outstretched hand precedes eye contact. These findings demonstrate that the timing between a person\'s gaze and their offer to shake hands is critical to how their action is interpreted.

A clinical scale fully dedicated to evaluating ocular motor abnormalities is required for now. We investigated the utility of a recently developed Scale for Ocular motor Disorders in Ataxia (SODA) in patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA). We prospectively assessed SODA in consecutive patients with MSA between August 2021 and August 2023 at the Korea University Medical Center. The results of the clinical exam-based SODA were compared with those measured using video-oculography (VOG-guided SODA). We also compared the findings with other established clinical scales targeting patients with MSA, including the Unified Multiple System Atrophy Rating Scale (UMSARS) I-II, Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson\'s Disease Rating Scale motor part (UPDRS-III), Scale for Assessment of Rating of Ataxia (SARA), Composite Autonomic Symptom Score-31 (COMPASS-31), and Composite Autonomic Severity Score (CASS). Twenty patients were enrolled in our study (17 with cerebellar-type MSA and three with Parkinson-type MSA). Scores ranged from 1 to 14 (median [interquartile range (IQR)] = 8 [5-10]). Among the subscales, saccades had a median score of 2.5 (IQR = 1-3), followed by ocular pursuit (1 [0-1]), nystagmus (1 [0-2]), saccadic intrusions (1 [0-1]), vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) (0.5 [0-1]), ocular alignment (0 [0-1]), and VOR cancellation (1 [0-1]). The clinical-exam-based SODA (p = 0.020) and VOG-guided SODA (p = 0.034) positively correlated with disease duration. No correlation was found between clinical exam-based SODA and other scales. Skew deviation, gaze-evoked nystagmus, VOR cancellation, and smooth pursuit had the highest precision among the items. Ocular misalignment and spontaneous and positional nystagmus were frequently false positive and were poorly detected with clinical exam-based SODA. Six patients with repeated evaluation exhibited higher scores, along with deterioration documented on other clinical scales. The SODA can reliably predict neurodegeneration as an additional clinical surrogate in MSA.

Marginal reflex distance1 (MRD1) is a crucial clinical tool used to evaluate the position of the eyelid margin in relation to the cornea. Traditionally, this assessment has been conducted manually by plastic surgeons, ophthalmologists, or trained technicians. However, with the advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) technology, there is a growing interest in the development of automated systems capable of accurately measuring MRD1. In this context, we introduce novel MRD1 measurement methods based on deep learning algorithms that can simultaneously capture images and compute the results. This prospective observational study involved 154 eyes of 77 patients aged over 18 years who visited Chungnam National University Hospital between 1 January 2023 and 29 July 2023. We collected four different MRD1 datasets from patients using three distinct measurement methods, each tailored to the individual patient. The mean MRD1 values, measured through the manual method using a penlight, the deep learning method, ImageJ analysis from RGB eye images, and ImageJ analysis from IR eye images in 56 eyes of 28 patients, were 2.64 ± 1.04 mm, 2.85 ± 1.07 mm, 2.78 ± 1.08 mm, and 3.07 ± 0.95 mm, respectively. Notably, the strongest agreement was observed between MRD1_deep learning (DL) and MRD1_IR (0.822, p < 0.01). In a Bland-Altman plot, the smallest difference was observed between MRD1_DL and MRD1_IR ImageJ, with a mean difference of 0.0611 and ΔLOA (limits of agreement) of 2.5162, which was the smallest among all of the groups. In conclusion, this novel MRD1 measurement method, based on an IR camera and deep learning, demonstrates statistical significance and can be readily applied in clinical settings.

Dynamic visual acuity (DVA) is crucial for the perception of moving objects. While traditional DVA assessment tools predominantly focus on horizontal movements, the evaluation of vertical DVA remains unstandardized. Consequently, the disparities between vertical and horizontal DVAs are yet to be thoroughly investigated. Therefore, we designed a system capable of conducting multidirectional DVA tests and eye movement measurements. During the experiments, the participants identified the gap direction of the Landolt-C ring moving either horizontally or vertically. The speed of movement decelerated from its maximum as a high-speed infrared camera captured the pupil movements of the left eye at 500 fps. We conducted tests on 15 healthy university students (aged [Formula: see text] years) and measured vertical and horizontal DVAs five times each. DVA was deduced from the Landolt-C ring speed with accurate gap direction responses, and eye movement was assessed based on the total gaze movement distance. The results revealed superior DVA and eye movement in the horizontal direction compared with the vertical direction ([Formula: see text]). This highlights the anisotropic characteristics of DVA and eye movement. The proposed system has the potential for multidirectional dynamic vision evaluation and training in clinical scenarios.