A dynamic adjustment model of saccade lengths in reading for word-spaced orthographies: evidence from simulations and invisible boundary experiments. Issue 4 (19th May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hautala, Jarkko; Hawelka, Stefan; Loberg, Otto; Leppänen, Paavo H.T.
• Is Part Of: Journal of cognitive psychology. Volume 34:Issue 4(2022)
• Page Start: 435
• Page End: 453
• Publication Date: 2022-05-19
• Subjects: Eye movement control -- computational modeling -- reading -- word length -- saccade length; Cognitive psychology -- Periodicals; 153.05
• DOI: 10.1080/20445911.2021.2011895
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2044-5911

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Contemporary models of eye movement control in reading assume a discrete target word selection process preceding saccade length computation, while the selection itself is assumed to be driven by word identification processes. However, a potentially more parsimonious, dynamic adjustment view allows both next word length and its content (e.g. orthographic) to modulate saccade length in a continuous manner. Based on a recently proposed center-based saccade length account a new regression model of forward saccade length is introduced and validated in a simulation study. Further, additional simulations and gaze-contingent invisible boundary experiments were used to study the cognitive mechanisms underlying skipping. Overall, the results support the plausibility of dynamic adjustment of saccade length in word-spaced orthographies. In the future, the present regression formula-based computational model will allow a straightforward implementation of influences of current and next word content (visual, orthographic, or contextual) on saccade length computation.