Restriction of pursuit eye movement range during a concurrent auditory task

Abstract

Two experiments with 10 21-37 yr old males were conducted to determine the effects of a concurrent auditory dot/dash identification task on pursuit eye movements (PEMs). Results indicate there was a significant (20%) but transitory task-induced restriction of the range of both an 18° horizontal and a 14° vertical PEM visual angle. Doubling the presentation rate of the concurrent task accounted for an additional 5% restriction of PEM range. Results also indicate that the eye-movement range was unaffected by both prior knowledge of the task and 4 consecutive practice trials. It is suggested that both the rapidity of target movement and the presence of concurrent mental tasks could significantly shrink an operator's PEM ranges during viewing of dynamic visual displays such as airborne low-level TV and forward-looking infrared. (20 ref) (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)