MECHANISM OF SATISFACTION OF SEARCH - EYE POSITION RECORDINGS IN THE READING OF CHEST RADIOGRAPHS

PURPOSE: To use the eye position recordings of observers as they read chest images to advance understanding of the mechanism of ''satisfacti on of search,'' a phenomenon in which the detection of one abnormality interferes with the detection of other abnormalities. MATERIALS AND M ETHODS: Eight radiologists examined chest images that contained simula ted pulmonary nodules and native abnormalities. Accuracy in detecting nodules and native abnormalities and eye position, gaze duration, and total search time were recorded. RESULTS: Nodule detectability was low er on native abnormality-containing images than it was on normal image s (P <.005). Native-abnormality detectability was not negatively affec ted by the nodules. Most missed nodules were fixated; only those on im ages without native abnormalities, however, received prolonged visual attention. CONCLUSION: The satisfaction of search phenomenon is an imp ortant source of error in the detection of subtle abnormalities but no t of obvious abnormalities. Obvious abnormalities capture visual atten tion and decrease vigilance abnormalities.