The Impact of Eccentricity within Visual Vigilance Displays

The Functional Field of View (FFOV) plays a crucial role in processing task-relevant visual information, especially in activities like driving and operational domains such as aviation and surveillance. Many tasks requiring a wide FFOV also demand sustained attention over prolonged periods. However, performance in vigilance tasks often declines over time (i.e., vigilance decrement). Understanding the interaction between FFOV and vigilance is vital to optimize performance and reduce risks in such settings. Previous studies suggested that attentional availability limits FFOV, as such introducing attention-demanding tasks like vigilance were expected to decrease FFOV over time. Results revealed that response times for the most centrally located stimuli, while faster than more peripheral regions, selectively worsened over time. These results may suggest a strategic trade-off in attention allocation; in order to compensate for reduced availability of attentional resources, relatively difficult, peripheral locations may have been prioritized.