At some time during the period of a fixation a decision is made to move the eyes. This paper considers possible bases for this saccade initiation decision during reading. Two extreme theoretical positions seem unlikely: that the decision is made without consideration of information from the current fixation or that the eyes are moved when processing of information from that fixation is finished. Alternative explanations which suggest that the eyes are moved after some but not all processing is complete are considered and tested against recent data.

George W. McConkie

Papers

What is the Basis for Making an Eye Movement during Reading? Technical Report No. 287.