Related to the interplay between perception and eye movements is an equally important interaction between selective attention and eye movements. Specifically, it is generally accepted that both saccades and pursuit recruit visual attention to the intended targets of these eye movements. But, what can we say about the link between attention and eye movements when subjects elect to suppress eye movements and maintain gaze fixation while still shifting attention covertly?
In our lab, we explore the dynamics of microsaccadic eye movements and how they relate to the dynamics of selective visual attention. We also explore such relationships for larger voluntary eye movements, such as saccades and smooth pursuit. We utilize behavioral, neurophysiological, and computational techniques to understand synergistic interactions between cognition, perception and action. Such interactions also touch on broader topics in systems neuroscience like working memory, target selection, and decision making.
See our demos on THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN MICROSACCADES AND THE CUEING OF SPATIAL ATTENTION