Abstract
Eye movements were monitored while people inspected a picture to determine whether it confirmed or disconfirmed a sentence they had just read. The sentences were quantified statements likeFew of the dots are red, and the picture was a display of a large and a small subset of dots. It was found that the subset of dots a person fixated was determined by the semantic representation of the sentence rather than by its superficial referent. SinceFew of the dots are red is semantically represented as a denial that the larger subset is red, people verifying the sentence fixate the larger subset, even though it is the small subset that is superficially referenced. By contrast, sinceA minority of the dots are red is semantically represented as an assertion that the smaller subset is red, people verifying this sentence fixate the smaller subset. A model of how people derive and compare representations of sentences and pictures is outlined.
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The order of authors was decided by the toss of a coin. This was a completely collaborative effort.
We wish to thank Herbert H. Clalk for his constructive commenta and Norman Mackworth for his advice and for the use of his eye camera.
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Carpenter, P.A., Just, M.A. Semantic control of eye movements in picture scanning during sentence-picture verification. Perception & Psychophysics 12, 61–64 (1972). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03212843
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03212843