Abstract
Two hypotheses regarding the nature of fixation durations in reading were discussed. One position suggests that semantic processing lags behind the perceptual input of information. The other position suggests that semantic processing is more rapid and immediate. Eye movement data of skilled readers reading passages of text were analyzed. It was found that the main verb of the sentence received more visual attention than other key grammatical elements within a sentence. On the basis of the overall result pattern, it was argued that eye movements are affected by cognitive processes occurring at the time of the fixations.
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Analysis of the data for the present paper was supported by Grant BNS76-05017 from the National Science Foundation and Grant MH25868 from the National Institute of Mental Health to the author.
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Rayner, K. Visual attention in reading: Eye movements reflect cognitive processes. Memory & Cognition 5, 443–448 (1977). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03197383
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03197383