Volume 6, Number 6, Abstract 481, Page 481a doi:10.1167/6.6.481 http://journalofvision.org/6/6/481/ ISSN 1534-7362
Predictive eye movements in squash
Kelly Chajka
University of Rochester: Center for Visual Science
[e-mail]
Mary Hayhoe
University of Rochester: Center for Visual Science
Brian Sullivan
University of Rochester: Center for Visual Science
Jeff Pelz
Rochester Institute of Technology
Neil Mennie
Justus-Liebig-University Giesen
Jason Droll
University of California, Santa Barbara
Abstract

Natural behavior must deal with inherent delays in visual feedback. This problem is particularly acute in dynamic environments such as playing sports. One solution is to learn environmental dynamics to predict future states, similar to proposals for predicting sensory consequences of movements (e.g. Wolpert et al., 1998). We present evidence for predictive control of eye movements of two skilled squash players. Eye movements were recorded simultaneously from both subjects using two RIT lightweight wearable eye-trackers (Babcock & Pelz, 2004). Gaze was analyzed when subjects observed the ball after the opponent hit it (receiving), and after the subject hit the ball back to the other player (returning). When receiving, Player 1 fixated the front wall 110ms before the ball arrived with 8° of error on average. Player 2 fixated 200ms before arrival, with 13° of error. When returning, fixations began 31 (Player 1) and 57 ms (Player 2) after the bounce on the front wall. Players pursued the ball for 64% (Player 1) or 41% (Player 2) of its path from wall to the floor. Player 1 was able to pursue the ball up to speeds of 190°/s and at reduced gain up to 230°/s, while Player 2 pursued up to 117°/s, and to 160°/s with reduced gain. We conclude that the ability to make high-precision anticipatory fixations, and to pursue at such high speeds, is evidence for predictive mechanisms due to learnt models of the ball's dynamic properties. In addition, the degree of prediction depends on the subject's behavioral goals.

History
Received March 23, 2006; published June 1, 2006
Citation
Chajka, K., Hayhoe, M., Sullivan, B., Pelz, J., Mennie, N., & Droll, J. (2006). Predictive eye movements in squash [Abstract]. Journal of Vision, 6(6):481, 481a, http://journalofvision.org/6/6/481/, doi:10.1167/6.6.481.
Keywords
None
On-Line Presentation
None
for related articles by these authors

for papers that cite this paper
Get citation
Get help with this






jov