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子ども発達臨床研究センター英文年報 = Research and Clinical Center for Child Development : Annual Report >
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Why Do the Eyes Move during Cognitive Activity?

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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:http://hdl.handle.net/2115/42964

Title: Why Do the Eyes Move during Cognitive Activity?
Other Titles: 認知活動時になぜ眼球が運動するか
Authors: Hoshi, Yoko1 Browse this author
Chen, Shing-Jen2 Browse this author
Authors(alt): 星, 詳子1
陳, 省仁2
Keywords: eye movement
gaze shift
cognitive space
development
Issue Date: 30-Mar-2010
Publisher: Research and Clinical Center for Child Developmemt, Graduate School of Education, Hokkaido University
Journal Title: Research and Clinical Center for Child Development : Annual Report
Journal Title(alt): 子ども発達臨床研究センター英文年報
Volume: 30
Start Page: 69
End Page: 77
Abstract: Shifting gaze during difficult cognitive activities is a very common phenomenon in our daily life, whereas its underlying neuropsychological mechanisms remain controversial. Preceding studies on adults have indicated that by shifting the gaze people disengage from environmental stimulation in order to concentrate on cognitive tasks. Further studies on children have suggested that approaching this eye movement phenomenon from the developmental viewpoint opens a window on its mechanisms. Here, we used an eye-tracking system to examine eye movements in adults and children while they were performing cognitive tasks, and also employed near-infrared spectroscopy to examine the neural basis of the gaze shift. Adults moved their eyes toward individual specific directions regardless of the task type. In contrast, younger children looked around more extensively with no directionality. Transition to adult-like patterns of eye movements was observed at 10 years of age, which corresponded to the time period of achieving adult levels of performance on a standard measure of executive functions. The eye movements were accompanied by activation of the premotor cortex and/or the lateral prefrontal cortex. These data suggest that the eye movements represent a more positive function than mere disengagement from the environment; probably access to cognitive space. It is also implicated that 10 years of age is a crucial period for cognitive development.
Type: bulletin (article)
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2115/42964
Appears in Collections:子ども発達臨床研究センター英文年報 = Research and Clinical Center for Child Development : Annual Report > No. 30

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