Inter-relationships between visual lobe dimensions, search times and eye movement parameters for a competition search task.

Abstract

The inter-relationships between visual lobe dimensions, search times and eye movement parameters were investigated for a competition search task with 18 subjects. The subjects had previously participated in a visual lobe measurement and two search performance experiments using the same set of stimulus material. Using an Eye Mark Recorder, the average search times of subjects were found to be comparatively longer than for previous search tasks not using the recorder, and relative search performance ranks of the subjects were altered. The method of stimulus presentation and the search area were different in this experiment, so we cannot be certain as to which factor or factors caused the lengthening of search times and changes in ranking. All subjects achieved a 100% hit rate with no mis-classification of targets. A very high correlation coefficient was obtained for cumulative detection percentage and pooled search times when fitted to a random search model. Average search times were found to be significantly correlated with fixation durations as well as with the number of fixations. Contrary to expectation, none of the visual lobe dimensions was found to correlate significantly with average search times nor with eye movement parameters.