Feedback Analysis of Eye Tracking of Auditory and Tactual Stimuli

Eye movement errors were compared in tracking visual, auditory, and tactual targets that moved in comparable continuous paths in order to determine if interreceptor feedback tracking methods may be of significance in developing directional ocular attention in blind children. The findings were that although the eyes cannot track auditory and tactual stimuli nearly as accurately as they can visual targets, they can orient to changes in position and direction of auditory and tactual targets. To perform smooth pursuit movements, the eyes require dynamic retinal feedback of their own movements. When attempting to track auditory and tactual stimuli the eyes perform saccades that shift more or less accurately with changes in target direction and position. The possibility exists for developing feedback aids to the blind in detecting eye position during developmental training of directional ocular attention to auditory or tactual stimuli.