Attentional and ocular movements

The relationship between eye movements and movements of attention was examined in a series of 6 experiments. A temporal order judgment technique was used to index attentional allocation. The results showed that endogenous movements of attention were slower than movements of the eyes and that the participants were able to hold attention at one location while executing an eye movement to another location. Under conditions of exogenous cueing, attention moved rapidly to the cued location, in advance of the eyes. These findings challenge the prevailing view that ocular movements must necessarily be preceded by a movement of attention.