Two recent studies shed light on the relationship between attention and eye movements, revealing surprising findings about pre-saccadic attention and its impact on perception. These studies provide valuable insights into attention disorders and potential therapies.
The Intricate Relationship between Attention and Eye Movements
( Credit to: Madrastribune )
Attention and eye movements are two intertwined processes that play a crucial role in our cognitive functioning. Recent studies conducted by the Centre for Neuroscience at the Indian Institute of Science have shed light on the intricate relationship between these two phenomena, revealing surprising findings that challenge previous assumptions.
Attention allows us to focus on specific objects in our visual field while disregarding distractions. It has long been suspected that attention and eye movements, known as saccades, are closely connected. When we pay attention to an object, our gaze tends to shift towards it, a phenomenon known as pre-saccadic attention. This pre-saccadic attention was believed to enhance our perception of the object.
However, the researchers at the Centre for Neuroscience discovered a surprising twist in this relationship. In a study published in PLOS Biology, they found that the advantage of pre-saccadic attention is lost when the object suddenly changes just before our gaze falls upon it. This sudden change makes it more difficult for us to process what has occurred, challenging the notion that pre-saccadic attention is always beneficial.
Unveiling the Impact of Pre-Saccadic Attention
To further investigate the impact of pre-saccadic attention, the researchers at the Centre for Neuroscience conducted experiments with human volunteers. The participants were trained to covertly monitor line patterns presented on a screen without directly fixating on them. They were asked to report any slight tilts in the patterns while their eyes were about to make a saccadic movement.
By tracking the participants' eye movements before, during, and after the gaze fell on the object, the researchers made an intriguing discovery. They found that participants had a harder time detecting changes in the pre-saccadic window when the object suddenly changed just before their gaze fell upon it. This suggests that the advantage of pre-saccadic attention may not always confer a perceptual advantage when objects change abruptly.
Decoupling Attention from Eye Movements: Insights from Monkey Experiments
To further understand the neural processes underlying attention and eye movements, the researchers collaborated with scientists from Stanford University to conduct experiments on monkeys. The goal was to decouple attention from eye movements and examine their individual contributions.
The monkeys were trained to covertly monitor several gratings on a computer screen without directly fixating on them. Interestingly, when one of the gratings tilted slightly, the monkeys were trained to look away from it instead of focusing more sharply on it. This allowed the researchers to separate the location of the monkey's attention from the location where its gaze ultimately fell.
Through these experiments, the researchers gained valuable insights into the intricate relationship between attention and eye movements. They discovered that the location where attention is directed may not always align with the location where the gaze falls, highlighting the complex nature of these processes.
Implications for Attention Disorders and Therapies
Understanding the mechanisms involved in attention and eye movements has important implications for attention disorders such as ADHD. By unraveling what goes wrong in these disorders, researchers can develop more effective therapies.
Prof. Devarajan Sridharan, Associate Professor at the Centre for Neuroscience and corresponding author of the study, emphasizes the significance of discovering such mechanisms for developing therapies for disorders like ADHD.
These studies conducted by the Centre for Neuroscience at the Indian Institute of Science have deepened our understanding of the intricate relationship between attention and eye movements. They have challenged previous assumptions about the benefits of pre-saccadic attention and opened up new avenues for investigating attention disorders and developing targeted treatments.