Eye-Movement Patterns in Scanning Numeric Displays

Abstract

Eye movements of three Ss during visual scanning of 15° 2′ 6 × 6 numeric matrices were studied, using a modification of the Mackworth eye-marker apparatus, as a function of frequency of target numeral (0 to 7), digit scanned for, and learning (176 trials). The results indicated that time to scan varied significantly with both frequency and target digit, and these time differences were reflected by significant departures from the over-all average number of fixations (18), while average duration of fixations (.31 sec.) remained relatively constant. The average durations of fixations on target numbers (.32 sec.) and non-target numbers (.30 sec.) were not statistically significantly different. Average center-to-center distance between the closest fixation and a target number was 2° 28′ and this distance differed among digits, being 2° 42′ for the most quickly recognized and 1° 36′ for the most difficult to recognize. The results indicated the possible role of eye movements in information processing.