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An Experimental Investigation of the Visual Behavior of Young Heroin Addicts and Matched Controls
Abstract
The purpose of this experimentation was to determine if the eye movements of heroin addicts differed from non-addicted controls. The study employed an oculometer, which tracked and recorded eye movements without the subject's knowledge or any interference with his visual behavior, and a data processing system, which handled the large volume of data produced by tracking the eye at 60 frames a second. Analysis of the eye movement data revealed major differences between the rapid eye movements, fixation sequences and scan pattern of addicts and non-addicted control subjects. It appears that the significant differences between the eye movements of the addicts and the control subjects are due to (1) motivational factors associated with the importance of the stimulus material; e.g., drug versus neutral items, (2) basic differences in the physiological and central nervous system processes that regulate eye movements, and (3) possible differences in reading skills and the ability to manipulate printed material. Extensions and application of the eye movement studies are discussed. Keywords: Drug effects; Drug addicts; Physiological effects. (KT)
... roin appear to be highly specific, and alter the central nervous system's temporal processes which govern and regulate excitability cycles and cortical scanning. that the taste thresholds of addicts for qumme were significantly lower than those of controls and alcoholics. Similarly, a recent series of studies of the visual behavior of drug addicts (Hall. Rosenberger, & Monty, 1973) indicated that there were basic differences between addicts and controls in the rapid eye movement associated with fixation sequences and that these may indicate disturbance of the temporal processes which ...
The time taken to detect the te direction of movement of a stylus drawn across the volar surface of the forearm is greater for heroin addicts than for nonaddicts. The slower the speed of movement of the stylus, the greater the difference. Perception of nontemporally related dimensions is not affected, indicating that the effects of heroin appear to be highly specific, and alter the central nervous system's temporal processes which govern and regulate excitability and cortical scanning.
... To date, the system has been used to study a variety of problems. For example, Hall, Rosenberger, and Monty (1974) compared the eye movements of heroin addicts and matched controls engaged in word and object recognition tasks. Representative data are shown inFigure 5. ...
A system has been developed that monitors eye movements without imposing any unnatural constraints or mechanical attachments
on the subject. The system also features high-speed on-line data processing.
The eye movement responses of heroin addicts and matched controls were examined while they were engaged in word and object recognition tasks. Significant differences between the two groups were found which could be attributed to motivational or interest factors associated with the importance of the materials shown, and to basic differences in the physiological and central nervous system processes that regulate eye movements. Based on these findings together with earlier observations of differences in cutaneous sensitivity between addicts and controls, it was hypothesized that addiction may lead to an altered sensory capacity in the temporal domain which is concerned with gating and subsequent scanning of stimuli. The potential role of educational differences between the two groups was also discussed.
Evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of major eye-movement measurement techniques, including electrooculography; corneal reflection; limbus, pupil, and eyelid tracking; contact lens method; point-of-regard measurement; and double Purkinje image methods. A comparison of the technical aspects of all the methods is presented in table form. (42 ref)
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