Eye tracking study in children to assess mental calculation and eye movements

Abstract Eye tracking technology is a high-potential tool for different mathematic cognition research areas. Moreover, there is a dire need for more studies that provide detailed information on the quality of registered eye data. This study aimed to illustrate the applicability of eye tracking in the examination of mathematical cognition, focusing specifically on primary school students completing a computerized mental arithmetic task. Results suggested that the eye tracking device effectively captured high-quality eye movement data when primary school children engaged in this specific task. Furthermore, significant negative correlations have been found between task performance and number of eye fixations. Finally, eye movements distinctions between “Areas of Interest” have been found, indicating different visual tracking associated with different components of arithmetic calculations. This study underscores the extensive possibilities for future research employing eye tracking devices during computerized calculation tasks as assessment tools to explore the complex visual and cognitive processes.