Abstract
Eye-tracking technology is a growing field used to detect eye movements and analyze human processing of visual information for interactive and diagnostic applications. Different domains in scientific research such as neuroscience, experimental psychology, computer science and human factors can benefit from eye-tracking methods and techniques to unobtrusively investigate the quantitative evidence underlying visual processes. In order to meet the experimental requirements concerning the variety of application fields, different gaze- and eye-tracking solutions using high-speed cameras are being developed (e.g., eye-tracking glasses, head-mounted or desk-mounted systems), which are also compatible with other analysis devices such as magnetic resonance imaging. This work presents an overview of the main application fields of eye-tracking methodology in psychological research. In particular, two innovative solutions will be shown: (1) the SMI RED-M eye-tracker, a high performance portable remote eye-tracker suitable for different settings, that requires maximum mobility and flexibility; (2) a wearable mobile gaze-tracking device—the SMI eye-tracking glasses—which is suitable for real-world and virtual environment research. For each kind of technology, the functions and different possibilities of application in experimental psychology will be described by focusing on some examples of experimental tasks (i.e., visual search, reading, natural tasks, scene viewing and other information processing) and theoretical approaches (e.g., embodied cognition).
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barsalou LW (1999) Perceptual symbol systems. Behav Brain Sci 22 (4):577–609; discussion 610–660. doi:10.1017/S0140525X99532149
Barsalou LW (2008) Grounded cognition. Annu Rev Psychol 59(1):617–645. doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.59.103006.093639
Barsalou LW (2010) Grounded cognition: past, present, and future. Top Cogn Sci 2(4):716–724. doi:10.1111/j.1756-8765.2010.01115.x
Clark A, Chalmers D (1998) The extended mind. Analysis 58(1):7–19. doi:10.1093/analys/58.1.7
Duchowski AT (2002) A breadth-first survey of eye-tracking applications. Behav Res Methods Instrum Comput 34(4):455–470. doi:10.3758/BF03195475
Grant ER, Spivey MJ (2003) Eye movements and problem solving. Psychol Sci 14(5):462–466. doi:10.1111/1467-9280.02454
Henderson JM, Hollingworth A (1998) Eye movements during scene viewing: an overview. In: Underwood G (ed) Eye guidance in reading and scene perception. Elsevier, Oxford, UK, pp 269–293
Holmqvist K, Nyström M, Andersson R, Dewhurst R, Jarodzka H, van de Weijer J (2011) Eye tracking: a comprehensive guide to methods and measures. Oxford University Press, New York, NY
Jacob RJK, Karn KS (2003) Eye tracking in human-computer interaction and usability research: Ready to deliver the promises. In: Hyönä J, Radach R, Deubel H (eds) The mind’s eye: cognitive and applied aspects of eye movement research. Elsevier Science, Oxford, UK, pp 573–603
Mele ML, Federici S (2012) A psychotechnological review on eye-tracking systems: towards user experience. Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol 7(4):261–281. doi:10.3109/17483107.2011.635326
Mele ML, Federici S (2013) Believing is seeing: ocular-sensory-motor embodiment of implicit associations. The 1st world conference on personality, Stellenbosch, ZA, March 19–23, 2013
Rayner K (1998) Eye movements in reading and information processing: 20 years of research. Psychol Bull 124(3):372–422. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.124.3.372
Richardson DC, Johnson SP (2008) Eye tracking research in infants and adults. In: Sloutsky V, Love B, McRae K (eds) 30th Annual meeting of the cognitive science society: CogSci 2008. Washington, DC, July 23–26 2008
Shimojima A, Katagiri Y (2012) An eye-tracking study of integrative spatial cognition over diagrammatic representations spatial cognition. In: Hölscher C, Shipley T, Belardinelli MO, Bateman J, Newcombe N (eds) Spatial cognition vii: international conference, spatial cognition 2010, vol 6222., SpringerBerlin, DE, pp 262–278
Thomas L, Lleras A (2007) Moving eyes and moving thought: on the spatial compatibility between eye movements and cognition. Psychon Bull Rev 14(4):663–668. doi:10.3758/bf03196818
Wilson M (2002) Six views of embodied cognition. Psychon Bull Rev 9(4):625–636. doi:10.3758/BF03196322
Conflict of interest
This supplement was not sponsored by outside commercial interests. It was funded entirely by ECONA, Via dei Marsi, 78, 00185 Roma, Italy.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mele, M.L., Federici, S. Gaze and eye-tracking solutions for psychological research. Cogn Process 13 (Suppl 1), 261–265 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10339-012-0499-z
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10339-012-0499-z