The following is a summary of “Ideal observer analysis for continuous tracking experiments,” published in the February 2022 issue of Ophthalmology by Ambrosi, et al.

For a study, researchers sought to investigate the feasibility of using the tracking paradigm for investigating dynamic features of perception, including ecologically relevant situations that are difficult to study using traditional psychophysical paradigms. The study aimed to develop an ideal observer model that characterizes the results regarding the efficiency of stimulus-response conversion and identification of early and late noise sources, which can be used in various perceptual domains to study the divergence of human participants from ideal behavior.

The study utilized continuous tracking, a newly developed technique that allows for fast and efficient data acquisition by asking participants to track a stimulus varying in some property, such as position in space, size, or numerosity. The study included experiments with two novel stimulus features, numerosity and size to prove the technique’s feasibility outside standard object tracking. In addition, an ideal observer model was developed to characterize the results regarding the efficiency of stimulus-response conversion and identification of early and late noise sources.

The study results demonstrate the feasibility of using the tracking paradigm for investigating dynamic features of perception and ecologically relevant situations that are difficult to study using traditional psychophysical paradigms. The ideal observer model developed in the study closely modeled results from human participants, providing a generalized framework for the interpretation of tracking data. The model also allowed for the use of the tracking paradigm in various perceptual domains and the study of the divergence of human participants from ideal behavior.

The study concluded that continuous tracking is a promising paradigm for investigating dynamic features of perception and can be particularly well suited for testing ecologically relevant situations difficult to study with classical psychophysical paradigms. Furthermore, the ideal observer model developed in the study provides a framework for interpreting tracking data and can be used to study the divergence of human participants from ideal behavior in various perceptual domains.

Reference: jov.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2778330