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What is the best fixation target? The effect of target shape on stability of fixational eye movements

Thaler, Lore; Schütz, Alexander C.; Goodale, Melvyn A.; Gegenfurtner, Karl R.

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Authors

Alexander C. Schütz

Melvyn A. Goodale

Karl R. Gegenfurtner



Abstract

People can direct their gaze at a visual target for extended periods of time. Yet, even during fixation the eyes make small, involuntary movements (e.g. tremor, drift, and microsaccades). This can be a problem during experiments that require stable fixation. The shape of a fixation target can be easily manipulated in the context of many experimental paradigms. Thus, from a purely methodological point of view, it would be good to know if there was a particular shape of a fixation target that minimizes involuntary eye movements during fixation, because this shape could then be used in experiments that require stable fixation. Based on this methodological motivation, the current experiments tested if the shape of a fixation target can be used to reduce eye movements during fixation. In two separate experiments subjects directed their gaze at a fixation target for 17 s on each trial. The shape of the fixation target varied from trial to trial and was drawn from a set of seven shapes, the use of which has been frequently reported in the literature. To determine stability of fixation we computed spatial dispersion and microsaccade rate. We found that only a target shape which looks like a combination of bulls eye and cross hair resulted in combined low dispersion and microsaccade rate. We recommend the combination of bulls eye and cross hair as fixation target shape for experiments that require stable fixation.

Citation

Thaler, L., Schütz, A. C., Goodale, M. A., & Gegenfurtner, K. R. (2013). What is the best fixation target? The effect of target shape on stability of fixational eye movements. Vision Research, 76, 31-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.visres.2012.10.012

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jan 14, 2013
Deposit Date Oct 23, 2012
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Vision Research
Print ISSN 0042-6989
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 76
Pages 31-42
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.visres.2012.10.012
Keywords Eye movements, Ocular fixation, Microsaccade, Drift, Dispersion, Slow control.

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Copyright Statement
NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Vision Research. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Vision Research, 76, 14 January 2013, 10.1016/j.visres.2012.10.012.





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