Effects of target motion characteristics on interceptive aiming performance and gaze control

The effects of spatial and temporal target motion characteristics on the far moving target interception were investigated. Gaze control and interception accuracy was examined under known and repeated target speed presentation and compared to unknown and random presentation conditions. Target speed and spatial path were also varied from highly predictable to less predictable patterns. Point of gaze distribution, eye fixation time and outcome accuracy were measured while participants (N = 24) attempted to intercept a moving target by throwing a dart to a projection screen. Spatial and temporal accuracy were inversely related to each other. The variation in aimed location in laboratory space was significantly influenced by target motion predictability, but not influenced by target speed. Point of gaze data also indicated that participants tended to track the moving target more rather than look at the anticipated interception location, as target motion became less predictable, The faster target speed increased the use of predictive control of gaze. These data support the association between target motion and gaze control in moving target interception.