How attention and the ability to stop eye movements shape visual search behavior
Official title: Contributions of Attentional and Inhibitory Functioning to Saccadic Decisions
Run by University of Colorado, Denver · NCT06587113 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will see if differences in attention and inhibitory control explain why some adults move their eyes differently while searching, enrolling adults 18–65 with normal or corrected vision and no neurological illness.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 225 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Colorado, Denver Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Denver, Colorado) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 15, 2024 |
| Main results expected | May 15, 2026 |
| Study ends | May 15, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | February 20, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06587113 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults aged 18–65 with normal or corrected-to-normal vision and no history of neurological illness who are comfortable completing computer-based eye-tracking tasks.
✕Probably not a fit
People with uncontrolled or uncorrected vision problems, a history of neurological disease, children, or those seeking clinical treatment rather than participation in basic research are unlikely to benefit directly.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Participants complete a series of behavioral eye-tracking tasks while their eye movements are recorded. In a visual search task they look for targets and researchers measure fixation durations, saccades, and other eye movement features. A peripheral detection task (useful field of view) measures attentional reach across the visual field, and a stop-signal paradigm measures the ability to inhibit planned eye movements. Comparing performance across these tasks will identify how attention and inhibition contribute to between-person differences in search behavior.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help clinicians and researchers better characterize attention and inhibition differences and ultimately inform personalized approaches to diagnosing or remediating attention-related problems.
How similar studies have gone: Eye-tracking, peripheral detection, and stop-signal methods are well-established and have produced reliable findings, but combining them to explain individual differences in natural visual search is a relatively new approach.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * 18-65 years old Exclusion Criteria: * Self-reported history of neurological illness * Uncorrected vision problems
Where it's running
-
University of Colorado Denver
Denver, Colorado, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Carly J Leonard, Phd — University of Colorado enver
- Study coordinator: Carly J Principal Investigator, PhD
- Email: carly.leonard@ucdenver.edu
- Phone: 303-315-7068
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.