Abstract
Detection of lung nodules contained in chest X-ray films was studied during both tachistoscopic presentation and free search. Lung nodules were first rated for their visibility against the anatomical background of the chest films. With tachistoscopic presentation, detection accuracy was influenced by rated visibility and by exposure durations up to 180 msec. Eye movements and fixations were recorded during free search. These measures indicated that radiologists use a comparative scanning strategy to differentiate nodules from anatomical structures. The frequency of comparative scans was influenced by rated visibility: Less visible nodules received more comparisons than the more visible nodules. We believe that the radiologist compares suspected nodules with the features of normal structures which serve as references for decisions.
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This research was supported by Grant GM-29010, awarded by the National institute of General Medicine Sciences, USPHS. Portions of this paper were presented at the meetings of the Psychonomic Society, St. Louis, November 1980.
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Carmody, D.P., Nodine, C.F. & Kundel, H.L. Finding lung nodules with and without comparative visual scanning. Perception & Psychophysics 29, 594–598 (1981). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03207377
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03207377