Visual Attention, Object Recognition, and Eye Movements in Healthy Volunteers

Study Description:

This study will determine how our vision is automatically drawn toward certain types of visual stimuli, such as faces and other socially relevant stimuli. We hypothesize that this tendency is driven by simple and basic visual features that are processed at very short latencies, rather than by complex and elaborate visual processing. We will test this hypothesis by asking subjects to perform simple behavioral tasks-pressing buttons on a button box or directing their gaze - while looking at visual images presented on a computer screen.

Objectives:

Primary Objective: To determine how visual information about socially relevant visual stimuli alters the timing and kinematics of saccadic eye movements.

Secondary Objective: To determine how visual information about socially relevant stimuli alters the allocation of visual selective attention.

Endpoints:

Primary Endpoint: Measurement of significant deviations in the trajectories or latencies of saccadic eye movements that are specific to basic features of socially relevant visual stimuli.

Secondary Endpoint: Measurement of significant changes in the performance of visual attention tasks that depend on basic features of socially relevant visual stimuli.

• INCLUSION CRITERIA:

In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:

• Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and actively pay attention to visual stimuli and respond as appropriate.
• Participant has visual acuity of 20/25 or better in both eyes.
• Participant must be 18 years old or older.
• Participant must understand and be willing to sign a written informed consent document.

Exclusion criteria

An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:

• Participant has an ocular, visual, or oculomotor problem that in the opinion of the Principal Investigator (PI) and/or clinical associate investigator would interfere with the participant s normal eye movements, visual perception, or required tasks.
• Participant has a history of eye patching (amblyopia or lazy eye).
• Participant has a non-ocular condition (e.g., neuropsychological conditions) that in the opinion of the PI and/or clinical associate investigator would interfere with the participant s normal eye movements or visual perception.