Eye gaze testing methods vary depending on the purpose. Here are some common approaches:
Assessing Eye Movement and Control
This type of testing focuses on the ability to move and control the eyes, often looking for involuntary movements or difficulties tracking objects. Examples include:
- Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) Test: Used in DUI investigations, this test involves following a moving object (like a pen) horizontally. Police observe for involuntary jerking of the eyes (nystagmus), which may indicate impairment. The reliability of this test is debated (e.g., only 77% reliable according to Shouse Law).
- Cardinal Fields of Gaze: As described in the video "[Six Cardinal Fields of Gaze Nursing](insert video link here)", this test assesses eye movement in six directions (up, down, left, right, and diagonally). It helps determine the functionality of specific cranial nerves involved in eye control.
- Gaze Stability Tests: These tests, like those offered by Interacoustics' VisualEyes™, measure the ability to maintain a fixed gaze on an object without extra eye movements.
Eye Tracking for Research and Usability
These methods utilize technology to precisely measure where a person is looking.
- Webcam Eye-Tracking Software: Tools like GazeRecorder use webcams to track eye movements, allowing for relatively inexpensive eye tracking studies at home or in the lab.
- Specialized Eye Trackers: More sophisticated systems, used in research settings (UCSD Neuroscience's Eye Gaze Research for example), provide higher accuracy and more detailed data. These are often used to study attention, cognition, and reading behavior. They can even be integrated into virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) systems (Microsoft Learn's Eye Tracking Basic Setup).
- Eye Gaze as an Alternate Response Option: This is used in assessment for individuals who have difficulty responding in conventional ways (CAASPP-ELPAC Guidance). The test administrator needs familiarity with the methods used to facilitate eye gaze responses.
Analyzing Eye Gaze in Specific Contexts
- Facial Emotion Recognition: Research investigates how eye gaze patterns relate to the processing of facial emotions (PubMed article).
- Binaural Sensitivity: Studies use eye gaze tracking alongside behavioral measures to understand auditory perception (Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience article).
- Usability Testing: HubSpot highlights how eye tracking technology helps determine where users focus their attention on a website or app, informing design improvements.
