Eye Movements: Cognition and Visual Perception

Eye movement refers to the voluntary and involuntary movement of the eyes that help in acquiring, fixating, and tracking the visual stimuli. Visual cognition is the process concerned with the ability of the brain to use and interpret visual information present in the environment. Eyes do not move smoothly over the stimulus instead they make a series of fixations and saccades. Fixation refers to the period of time when the eyes are relatively still, which typically lasts for approximately 150 to 350 milliseconds. After a fixation, eyes make a saccade (or jump) to a new location. Saccades can be defined as the rapid movement of eyes that are employed while scanning a visual scene. They have the potential to scan a greater area with the high-resolution fovea (center of vision) of the eye. This book is a compilation of chapters that discuss the most vital concepts relevant to understanding the interconnection between eye movements, and visual cognition and perception. With state-of-the-art inputs by acclaimed experts of this field, it targets professionals as well as students.