Rationale and Objectives. The authors tested the hypothesis that satis
faction of search effect, which is associated with the failure to dete
ct native chest abnormalities in the presence of simulated nodules, is
caused by reduced gaze on the native abnormalities. Materials and Met
hods. Gaze dwell time of 20 radiologists was recorded for the region a
round abnormalities on images. Ten radiographs were reviewed, none of
which contained native abnormalities. Each image was seen with and wit
hout a simulated nodule. Results. The decrease in the rate of true-pos
itive findings in the detection of native abnormalities on images that
contained simulated nodules confirmed the occurrence of a satisfactio
n of search effect. Gaze times on native abnormalities (up to the time
of report of the abnormalities) were the same for images with nodules
in which native abnormalities were missed (gaze time, 9.4 seconds) as
they were for images without nodules in which native abnormalities we
re detected (gaze time, 9.5 seconds). Gaze time on missed native abnor
malities was not affected by the presence (7.80 seconds) or absence (7
.45 seconds) of nodules. Conclusion. Reduction in gaze dwell time on t
he missed abnormalities is not the cause of satisfaction of search err
ors in chest radiographs.