Work

Temporal attention and oculomotor effects dissociate distinct types of temporal expectation

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Temporal expectation-the ability to predict when events occur-relies on probabilistic information within the environment. Two types of temporal expectation-temporal precision, based on the variability of an event's onset, and hazard rate, based on the increasing probability of an event with onset delay-interact with temporal attention (the ability to prioritize specific moments) at the performance level. Attentional benefits increase with precision but diminish with hazard rate. Both temporal expectation and temporal attention improve fixational stability; however, the distinct oculomotor effects of temporal precision and hazard rate, as well as their interactions with temporal attention, remain unknown. Investigating microsaccade dynamics, we found that hazard-based expectations were reflected in the oculomotor responses, whereas precision-based expectations emerged only when temporal attention was deployed. We also found perception-eye movement dissociations for both types of temporal expectation; yet, attentional benefits in performance coincided with microsaccade rate modulations. These findings reveal an interplay among distinct types of temporal expectation and temporal attention in enhancing and recalibrating fixational stability.

Source: Journal of Vision

DOI: 10.1167/jov.25.10.3

Authors: Aysun Duyar, Marisa Carrasco

Institution: New York University

Language: English

Topic: Visual perception and processing mechanisms

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,850

Funders: York University, National Institutes of Health, National Eye Institute