Eye movements in a sequential scanning task: Evidence for distributed processing

Eye movements in a sequential scanning task: Evidence for distributed processing

....Current models of eye movement control are derived from theories assuming serial processing of single items or from theories based on parallel processing of multiple items at a time. This issue has persisted because most investigated paradigms generated data compatible with both serial and parallel models. Here, we study eye movements in a sequential scanning task, where stimulus n indicates the position of the next stimulus n + 1. We investigate whether eye movements are controlled by sequential attention shifts when the task requires serial order of processing. Our measures of distributed processing in the form of parafoveal-on-foveal effects, long-range modulations of target selection, and skipping saccades provide evidence against models strictly based on serial attention shifts. We conclude that our results lend support to parallel processing as a strategy for eye movement control.

Citation: Trukenbrod, H. A., & Engbert, R. (2012). Eye movements in a sequential scanning task: Evidence for distributed processing. Journal of Vision, 12(1):5, 1–12, http://www.journalofvision.org/content/12/1/5, doi:10.1167/12.1.5. 

Comments: Read full article by clicking here. DM

Need CE for License Renewal?

Primary Care Grand Rounds CE event is scheduled for Thursday, March 1.

When: 5:30-7:30 PM

Where: Illinois College of Optometry Adams Center

For all Chicago-land ODs who need CE for license renewal, this is an excellent opportunity to enjoy two hours of non-tested CE & intellectual discussion with your colleagues.

Sponsored in part by an Alcon - Partners in Education Grant

Hors d'oeuvres & beverages will be provided

You must RSVP to continuinged@ico.edu - hope to see you there!!

 You can also register for this event by clicking here.

For additional information contact:

Elizabeth Grantner

Coordinator, Continuing Education & Faculty Professional Development

Illinois College of Optometry

3241 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60616-3878

egrantner@ico.edu

Direct: 312.949.7429

Fax: 312.949.7729

www.ico.edu

Optometry & Vision Development vol 43 #1

In the next couple weeks, Optometry & Vision Development vol 43 #1 will become available first online and then in hard copy.This is an open access journal so all are welcome to download and read great articles like...

Watch for an announcement as to when this journal will be available....

Please note that there is a definite conflict of interest here because I am the editor of this particular journal! Optometry  Vision Development is an official of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development. DM

AAP publishes 2012 childhood immunization schedule

AAP publishes 2012 childhood immunization schedule

.....The American Academy of Pediatrics recently released a policy statement that changes vaccine recommendations for three vaccines: human papillomavirus, meningococcal and influenza.
The policy statement includes updated immunization schedules for three groups, which include children aged 0 to 6 years, those aged 7 to 18 years and a catch-up schedule for children with late or incomplete immunizations. 

The AAP now recommends that all boys aged 11 or 12 years receive the human papillomavirus vaccine in a three-dose series, and patients can begin the series at 9 years of age. The meningococcal vaccine can now be given to children aged 9 months if they are residents or travelers to countries with epidemic disease or at increased risk of developing meningococcal disease. In addition, routine immunization with meningococcal vaccine should begin for those aged 11 to 12 years, with a booster dose administered at 16 years....

Head and eye gaze dynamics during visual attention shifts in complex environments

...The dynamics of overt visual attention shifts evoke certain patterns of responses in eye and head movements. In this work, we detail novel findings regarding the interaction of eye gaze and head pose under various attention-switching conditions in complex environments and safety critical tasks such as driving...... These results demonstrate that measurements of eye–head dynamics are useful data for detecting driver distractions, as well as in classifying human attentive states in time and safety critical tasks.  ....

 Comments: To read the full article, click on the title above. DM

Do You Pin?

From the COVDBlog!

My colleague, Dr. Rochelle Mozlin, wrote this interesting info about Pinterest on the COVDBlog:

 

Social networking is an online service, platform, or site that focuses on building and reflecting of social networks or social relations among people, who, for example, share interests and/or activities. Facebook is the grand daddy of social networking, but certainly not the only game in town.  Twitter, Google+, Flickr, Four Square, LinkedIn, Instagram ……. you get the idea.   If you think these social networking sites offer more than enough ways to share everything you think, say and do, then you have not discovered Pinterest.  Pinterest is the newest fastest growing social networking service.  In fact, it is red hot, with over 10 million visitors per month....

Comment: Click on  the Do You Pin above to read the whole article. DM

Why The Middle Finger Has Such A Slow Connection

 .....The researchers set subjects a simple task to measure the speed of decision: they showed them an image on a monitor that represented all ten fingers. If one of the fingers was marked, the subjects were to press a corresponding key as quickly as possible with that finger. The thumb and little finger were the fastest. The middle finger brought up the rear. "You might think that this has anatomical reasons or depends on the exercise" said Dr Dinse, "but we were able to rule that out through further tests. In principle, each finger is able to react equally quickly. Only in the selection task, the middle finger is at a distinct disadvantage.".....

 

 

One last chance for tested OD CE on March 11th

One last chance for tested CE on March 11th.

Please note: Test will be administered on site immediately following the last lecture.

The clocks "spring forward" at 2:00 AM Sunday, March 11th.

DO NOT FORGET TO CHANGE YOUR CLOCKS!!

The first lecture begins at 8:30 am. If you are late, you will not get credit.

The Illinois License Renewal Deadline of  March 31, 2012 is approaching fast! Don't miss out on The Illinois College of Optometry's upcoming two full days of  Continuing Education in our state-of-the-art Lecture Center. Online Registration is available. Register today!

March 11, 20127:45-8:30 Registration and Breakfast 8:30 Considerations in Caring for the Keratoconic Patient; Instructor: Renee Reeder, OD, FAAO; 2 Hours TQ 10:10 BREAK 10:30 Demystifying Traumatic Brain Iinjury Eye Exam: A Practical Approach for the Primary Care Optometrist; Instructor: Navjit Sanghera, OD, FAAO; 2 Hours TQ 12:10 LUNCH 1:00 Ocular Emergencies and Urgencies; Instructor: Jennifer Harthan, OD, FAAO; 2 Hours TQ TEST IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE LAST LECTURE Please contact ICO’s Continuing Education office if you have any additional questions at 312-949-7426 or continuinged@ico.edu. Course includes parking, continental breakfast, lunch, and course materials. Tests will be in multiple-choice format and are optional. All certificates and tests will be mailed out to attendees following the event. One re-take will be permitted. All courses are COPE Approved.

Mom vs the Eye Doctor

Evidence that convergence rather than accommodation controls intermittent distance exotropia.

....Increased vergence demand to control intermittent distance exotropia for near also drives significantly more accommodation. Minus lens therapy is more likely to act by correcting overaccommodation driven by controlling convergence, rather than by inducing blur-driven vergence. The use of convergence as a major drive to accommodation explains many clinical characteristics of distance exotropia, including apparently high near stimulus AC/A ratios....