A pipelining mechanism supporting previewing during visual exploration and reading

Abstract

Humans have a remarkable ability to efficiently explore visual scenes and text by means of eye-movements. Humans typically make eye-movements (saccades) every ~250ms. Since the saccadic motor planning and execution takes 100ms this leaves only ~150ms to recognize the fixated object (or word), while simultaneously previewing candidates for the next saccade goal. We propose a pipelining mechanism that efficiently can coordinate visual exploration and reading. The mechanism is timed by alpha oscillations that coordinate the saccades, visual recognition and previewing in the cortical hierarchy. Consequently, the neuronal mechanism supporting visual processing and saccades must be studied in unison to uncover the brain mechanism supporting visual exploration and reading. HighlightsO_LIHumans have a remarkable ability to efficiently acquire information from visual scenes and pages of text by means of saccadic exploration. C_LIO_LIVisual exploration is surprisingly efficient given the temporal and spatial constraints imposed by the visual system. As such, both information from current fixations as well as upcoming locations must be processed within a 150 ms time window. C_LIO_LINew data recording in humans and non-human primates points to a link between the timing of saccades and alpha oscillations. C_LIO_LIWe present a framework in which visual exploration and reading are supported by similar neuronal mechanisms. C_LIO_LIWe propose a novel mechanism in which visual exploration and reading is supported by a pipelining mechanism organized by alpha oscillations. C_LIO_LIAccording to the pipelining mechanism, fixated and previewed objects/words are represented at different phases of an alpha cycle. C_LI