Eye movement speed linked to impulsive decision making

One of the most frustrating things about shopping in a grocery store can be the long lines at the cash register. Do you stand there and wait for the line to go down? Or do you join another line that looks quicker? According to new research, decisions such as this may be dependent on the speed of our eye movements.

In a study published in The Journal of Neuroscience, researchers from Johns Hopkins University in Maryland found that people who are less patient are more likely to have faster eye movements.

The investigators say their findings may provide insight into why abnormalities in certain areas of the brain make decision making more challenging for people who have suffered brain injuries or who have neurological disorders, such as schizophrenia.

According to the investigators, previous research from the team suggested that how a person moves may be an indicator of how the brain works out the time frame in which to reduce the value of a reward. For example, when a person determines how long they should stand in line to get their groceries.

For this study, the researchers wanted to see whether differences in eye movements, in place of other body movements, could reflect differences in how a person assesses time and reward.

Saccade speed 'varies from person to person'

The research team monitored eye movements, known as saccades, of healthy volunteers.