Abstract
Eye movements of 12 Ss were examined during learning and recognition of two-dimensional random shapes to determine the nature of the memorial representation of a stimulus and the utilization of this memorial representation in pattern recognition. Specifically, the purpose of this study was to test the scanpath model of pattern perception by determining whether scanpaths exist and, if so, how they influence recognition performance. Scanpaths, defined as overlapping fixation patterns in learning and recognition tasks, were observed in over half of all eye-movement records regardless of shape complexity. Presence of scanpaths did not increase recognition performance as measured by errors in recognition and Ss’ ability to reproduce the shapes. Although scanpaths did not influence recognition performance, their occurrence implicates them as a potential factor in the recognition process.
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The present paper is adapted from a dissertation submitted to Temple University by the first author.
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Locher, P.J., Nodine, C.F. The role of scanpaths in the recognition of random shapes. Perception & Psychophysics 15, 308–314 (1974). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03213949
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03213949