title: The function of visual search and memory in sequential looking tasks.
abstract: Eye and head movements were recorded as unrestrained subjects tapped or only looked at nearby targets. Scanning patterns were the same in both tasks: subjects looked at each target before tapping it; visual search had similar speeds and gaze-shift accuracies. Looking, however, took longer and, unlike tapping, benefitted little from practice. Looking speeded up more than tapping when memory load was reduced: memory was more efficient during tapping.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  eye movements made when only looking are different from those made when tapping. Visual search functions as a separate process, incorporated into both tasks: it can be used to improve performance when memory load is heavy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Maryland at College Park 20742-4411, USA.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Epelboim
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Steinman
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kowler
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pizlo
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Erkelens
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Collewijn
mesh_terms: D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology*; D005403:Fixation, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D006257:Head; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000502:physiology; D009068:Movement; D012399:Rotation; D013997:Time Factors; D015348:Vision, Binocular / Q000502:physiology; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*