In the present study, the researchers monitored microsaccadic activity (perhaps a correlate of attention) to understand the attentional adjustments that typically take place after the presentation of cluttered stimuli. Each observer’s right eye was recorded using a scanning laser ophthalmoscope (TSLO) while performing a psychosomatic activity. Sloan numbers (0–9) were used as stimuli, presented briefly either without sides or surrounded by Sloan numbers at 1 of 4 nominal distances. On trials where there were incompatible microsaccades, the degree of crowding was observed to decrease by 26% (suggested to indicate attentional capture). The results added to the body of research that already existed on the positive effects of purposeful shifts of spatial attention to the location of a crowded stimulus. Reference: jov.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2783654
