Regressive Saccades During Reading: Effects of Target Distance and the Role of Individual Differences in Spatial Memory and Linguistic Skill

The current study examined the control of long-range regressive eye movements during sentence reading. Skilled readers were asked to read single-line sentences for comprehension. As a secondary task, they identified a probe word presented to the right of each sentence, and then went back to check the corresponding target word for spelling errors that had been added after reading. The regression target was located either close to or far from the probe. Consistent with prior work, initial regressions were larger for far than for near targets, and the finding of far targets required more eye movements and more search time. We replicated previous descriptions of visuomotor regression strategies but also discovered a novel strategy in which readers frequently send their initial regressions to the center of the line, followed by subsequent saccades. Apparently, this happened primarily when spatial knowledge on saccade target location was lacking. Spatial memory and reading skill made distinct contributions to regression targeting. Memory skills strongly determined primary regressions, especially to near targets, whereas reading speed influenced the time needed to attain targets with subsequent saccades.