Abstract
Eye movements in relation to mental activity of problem-solving
A. Nakano
Two pictorial stimuli (S1 & S2) were successively presented in non-problem-solving condition (C1) and problem-solving condition (C2). The eye movements are recorded by the corneal reflection method with vertically moving film. Quantative analysis on the basis of the number of fixation was attempted for the data films of 16 primary school children (Experiment I) and of 8 undergraduates (Experiment II). In the condition of C1, the number of fixation decreased gradually. When a problem was given, it turned to increase again. In the condition of C2, it tended to decrease during the process of problem-solving. It may be assumed that the decreasing and increasing slope were related to the extent of easiness and dif3~culty of problem and also to the capacity of the subject for problem-solving. In addition, a qualitative analysis was also attempted. The result of the present investigation suggests that the "drift" pattern appears, when thinking happens to be inward with the eye actually seeing nothing.