Characteristics of Eye Movements and Models of Reading Based on the Use of Eye-Tracking

U posljednjih su nekoliko desetljeća razvijene brojne metode s ciljem rasvjetljavanja mehanizama jezične obrade. Ugrubo se mogu podijeliti na metode koje se provode u odgođenom i u stvarnom vremenu (u ovome će se radu koristiti izvorni engleski izrazi off-line i on-line), pri čemu ih razlikuje način primjene te vrsta i obilježja podataka koje pružaju. Metoda praćenja pokreta očiju (engl. eye-tracking) danas se smatra jednom od najboljih metoda za proučavanje jezične obrade. Ona daje uvid u procese kognitivne obrade u stvarnom vremenu, a za razliku od off-line, ali i nekih on-line metoda, npr. metode mjerenja evociranih potencijala ili funkcionalne magnetske rezonancije, naročito je pogodna za istraživanje procesa koji se protežu u vremenu. Budući da je utemeljena na pretpostavkama koje povezuju fiziološku razinu kontrole pokreta oka s kognitivnim procesima koji su u pozadini, a pritom je i neinvazivna, danas je ovo sve zastupljenija metoda u proučavanju procesa vezanih za jezičnu obradu. Glavni je cilj ovog rada dati kratki pregled metoda istraživanja jezične obrade s posebnim naglaskom na on-line metodu praćenja pokreta očiju, predstaviti obilježja pokreta očiju tijekom čitanja te pružiti prikaz nekih od danas najaktualnijih modela čitanja. Iako se jezična obrada može proučavati i putem čitanja i putem slušanja, za potrebe ovog rada naglasak je stavljen na paradigmu čitanja.Over the last few decades many methods for studying the underlying mechanisms of language processing have been developed. They can roughly be divided into off-line and on-line methods, and differences between them involve how they are carried out, as well as the type and characteristics of data they provide. The eye-tracking method is considered one of the best methods for studying language processing. It provides insights into cognitive processes in real time. As opposed to off-line, and also some on-line methods, i.e. cognitive evoked potentials or functional magnetic resonance, it is especially suitable for studying processes that spread over time. Considering the fact that it is based on assumptions that connect the physiological level of eye movement control with the underlying cognitive processes, and is also non invasive, it is becoming more and more present when it comes to studying language processing. The main aim of this paper was to provide a brief overview of the methods for studying language processing with special emphasis on the on-line eye-tracking method, to introduce the characteristics of eye movements during reading and to present some of the most influential models of reading. Even though language processing in eye-tracking can be studied through either reading or listening, for the purpose of this paper the emphasis has been put on the reading paradigm